This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Koopman(s), Velleman, Buinsma, Van der Wal, Visser Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kFB.2ACE/4045.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi...nice to hear from you. My Koopmans are from Friesland. I have a Sijtze Rients born in 1762 married to Marijke Velleman and died in Sep 1826 with 6 children. Rienk Sytzes his eldest born in 1790 married to Pytje Buinsma. My relative was another son Willem Sytses born 27 Dec 1794 (or 93) in Oosterlittens, Friesland, Netherlands and married to Imke Van der Wal and 14 children born of that union. My relative is Johannes Willems born 11 Nov (also noted as 11 Oct) 1832 in Osterlittens, and died 22 Feb 1910 in Fremont, Newaygo Co, MI. His wife was Antje Willems Visser born 1831 and died at sea in 1882. My grandfather Sytse (Sam) Koopman b. 1877 immigrated with his father in 1882. There were 8 children and he was the youngest. While I am tempted that there is a relationship, it is not at all clear to me if that is true. My grandfather married my grandmother who was Stena Henderson b. 1887 in Grand Rapids, daughter of Niesken Vinkemulder and Ludolph Henderson (probably name was changed). Paul and George Koopman were their children. They lived in Grand Rapids primarily. My grandfather was apparently married before John Schoo was probably a child of his first marriage.