-----Original Message----- From: Harold F. Hahn <HaroldHahn@jnpcs.com> To: IRVIN-L@rootsweb.com <IRVIN-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Thursday, March 04, 1999 1:47 PM Subject: {not a subscriber} Re: [IRVIN-L] Irvin, Ervin & Urvin > >At the Scottish games in Alexandria, VA, I stopped at the Irvine Clan's >booth and got some materials I'll have to find again. One sheet gave the >clan's list of well over 200 variations on the original name. I grew up >with a couple of Elliott's and they had been impressed by the approx. 70 >variations that clan recognizes. > >I've developed a theory that lots of families, tribes, clans, etc., living >in areas likely to be visited by a variety of armed forces developed >flexibility as to the last name as a means of self-preservation. Some my >Hahn cousins (who spell the name "Hawn") swallow a story >hook-line-and-sinker that Johannes Jacob Hahn (who had grown up in the >Rhineland no man's land and who had survived the French & Indian War on the >PA frontier) changed his name to Hawn to distinguish himself from all of >those Hahns disloyal to George III in NC. It is probably true that when >Loyalists appeared at his door in Hickory he convinced them he was NOT the >"Hahn" now listed in the DAR Patriot Index (with his older sons) they were >out to get but a different fellow loyal "Hawn". One didn't live past 80 in >different war zones by being stupid. > >The Irvine Clan's original activities were in the border parts of Scotland >and I think they adapted to environment extremely well. > >Harold Hahn >ChristianObs@jnpcs.com >HaroldHahn@jnpcs.com > >