Joe Yes I am; I'm only three miles away. I've been to the chateau which is being restored. Moreover, it was the home of the Darailh - well, the menfolk when they wanted a boys' night/weekend/month out - no women The Fourcarans, despite the name being attached to the chateau, which is mid 17th century, do not appear to have been of the aristocracy, though there is a baptism where the godparents are from the chateau. There is apparently a reference to 'Forkeran' on the site of the Ulster Historical Foundation; it might persist somewhere. If Ireland is at the origin of the name, it would be nice to know at which point it came to France. I think I would be inclined to blame King John's lot but I'm not convinced that any Irishman worth his salt would have followed that nasty little man back to France Spellings I have encountered - and the list is not exhaustive:- Faucarin, Fourcairin, Forcairin, Forcaran, Fuquan, Fouqeran, Forquaran Liz "Joseph Pessarra" <joepessarra@suddenlink.net> a écrit dans le message de news: 4b429299$0$5356$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net... > Liz, > > Send me the list of possible spellings. And, are you familiar with this > site? > > http://www.moulins-a-vent.net/Moulins/savenes_fourcaran.htm > > Joe > > "Liz Owen" <l.owen@free.fr> wrote in message > news:4b4264e5$0$24598$426a74cc@news.free.fr... >> Strange - it's all to do with corruption of the surname. My Foucayran >> from whom I have just had an e-mail, is descended from a slew of >> Fourcaran (spelling incredibly variable - would you like a list from my >> parish registers?) that I can trace back in this here neck of the woods >> to 1589 >> >> Liz Owen >> >> >> "Joseph Pessarra" <joepessarra@suddenlink.net> a écrit dans le message de >> news: 4b4256ce$0$5327$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net... >>> "Liz Owen" <l.owen@free.fr> wrote in message >>> news:4b422744$0$6284$426a74cc@news.free.fr... >>>> Hello >>>> A friend of mine has "information" that the above surname may be of >>>> Irish origin - but going back several centuries possibly. Any extant >>>> Irish surname that resembles it? >>>> We also have a family called Darailh, also said to be Irish from way >>>> back - Daray maybe? >>>> Any ideas anybody? All suggestions except the most rude will be >>>> welcome >>>> >>>> TIA >>>> >>>> Liz Owen, in a damp and soggy SW France >>>> >>> http://www.genealogie.com/popularite-du-nom-fourcayran/fourcayran.html >>> Found this site, which shows no Fourcayran in France during the period >>> of 1891-1915, only appearing after that time. >>> >>> Joe in Texas >>> >>> >> >> > >