Hallo Listers, I have managed to collect all the information published in the HugSoc volumes on the Touchards and am now stuck trying to find out where in France they originated from. Martins email prompted me to have a look for my Touchards in here http://jeantosti.com/noms/a.htm and this is the result. "Touchard - Nom porté dans la Sarthe (également 86, 37). Variante : Touchart (60, 16). Deux possibilités : soit un toucheur de boeufs (celui qui conduit les boeufs de labour), soit un toponyme dérivé de touche (= bosquet, buisson). M.T. Morlet propose aussi un surnom pour un homme agressif, violent." I understand some of the words, but the subtleties escape me and I wonder if some kind person could translate for me, and tell me if there is any indication of place of origin? Many Thanks, Suzie Morley -----Original Message----- There is another: http://jeantosti.com/noms/a.htm It's in French, but if you click on the initial [in the long rectangular box] of the surname in which you are interested, you might find the results useful.