With regard to the "dit" term, I also have a "dit" in my ancestry: Bernard Theisen dit Theis whose son was Johann Theisen dit Theis and his daughter was called Anna Theis. I haven't seen a "dit" for her. So, I can't answer Liz's question as to whether it carried on or not, except that it doesn't appear to have done so in my family. But here's MY question about "dit." Why "Theis" instead of "Theisen" for Bernard and Johann? Why didn't they go by Theisen? Did they want to distinguish themselves from the Theisen's who were already in town? (They were from Eich, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg and there are a lot of Theisen's in the 10 year civil register. I haven't figured out what connection they have to these Theisen's if any, yet, but I'm hoping to find out.) Sharon Kazmierski, always amazed at how much surnames change. Sharon Kazmierski, Listowner, Latinteach & Latin E-mail Discussion Forums New on LATINTEACH's Website: Classroom ideas from Tiffany Wilson and Rose Williams. Do you have a Latin or Classics Website? Join the LATINTEACH WEBRING! http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/1790/index.html