Hello, I have started an email list for the surname JOHNIKEN, JOHNICAN, JONICAN, JOHNIGAN, JONIGAN, JOURNIGAN and any other name that may have a similar pronunciation. I know a lot of other families intermarried or other ways mingled with them in DeSoto/Sabine Parish. The list is not intended to replace any other list, especially JERNIGAN-L@ROOTSWEB.COM. However, I know some variations of the JOHNIKEN surname have existed with the independent spelling for at least 150 - 200 years. The purpose of the new list is to identify the origins of this name, with its myriad spellings. Some of these families may be related, even when the name is spelled different, but it is MORE likely that illiteracy and regional dialects caused the name to evolve in separate times and places. I want to identify the times and places and limit posting to events and people that existed at the time or came after the spelling of the name was standardized. Please share what you know with the rest of us. I do not expect JOHNIKEN-L to have many subscribers because there are not many people who use and research the name. I also believe the name evolved independently in SC, MS, and very likely in other places. The most likely root for that surname is JERNIGAN or JURNIGAN but there may be more. Let's compare notes. If you are a JOHNIKEN researcher, or if you think a branch of your family diverged from another surname and may have a pronunciation similar to JOHNIKEN you can subscribe by sending a blank email to JOHNIKEN-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM with the word subscribe in the Subject Line. Johnston, Chico, CA: "Rock is a kind of music; bluegrass is a kind of family." <A HREF="http://live-bluegrass.freeservers.com/">Click here: Rising Star Productions</A> http://live-bluegrass.freeservers.com Maybe the grass is really greener on the other side of the fence. But it's probably because your neighbor uses more fertilizer and water.