forwarded on behalf of dmeaux@houston.rr.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Meaux" <dmeaux@houston.rr.com> To: "Lloyd Rowsell" <lgrowsell@yahoo.com>; <NFLD-ROOTS-L@rootsweb.com> Cc: <NFLD-LAB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 5:59 PM Subject: {not a subscriber} The source of the "Power" surname > I've recently subscribed to this list as a result of my search for my > Canadian/Irish ancestry. I hope my request here does not fall outside of > the intent of this message board. > > I'm an American but my mother was a native of St.Johns (where I was in fact, > born but on an American military installation in the late 50's). Her maiden > name was Power. While this name appears quite common in Newfoundland and > especially St.Johns, it is very uncommon here in the states. > > Anyway, I have a lot of work to do and don't expect to figure it all out at > once but my first question is, to anyone who might be able to answer.... > > What is the origin of the "Power" name and when did the first make their way > to Newfoundland? I have heard one story that it has its origins in the name > "Del la de Poure", which implies a Spanish origin. However, I have my > doubts about that. > > any help would be appreciated > > thanks > > David Meaux > > Houston, Texas > > (grandson of Thomas Power, taxi driver/owner, died age 48 in 1960, of Scott > Street, St.Johns) > > >

Hi All; I have a little tidbit of info. on the "POWER" Surname transcribed from a Book entitled "Family Names Of The Island Of Newfoundland", written by E.R. Seary, but a corrected edition edited by "William Kirwin". POWER, a surname of England and Ireland, from Old French "Pohier"---the man from Poix {Picardy}, or from old French povre, poure-----poor, or ? from old French poer---{em} Power {ed} to do something, a hearld. Maclysaght notes that the de in the Irish form de paor should be le,---the poor man, con-be rare. {Reaney, Cottle, Maclysaght}. Guppy traced the variant poore in Hampshire; Spiegelhalter traced poore and Power in Devon; Maclysaght traced Power mainly in Waterford and adjacent Counties, among the fifty most numerous Irish names. In Newfoundland: Family traditions:-----, one of the first settlers of Conche in the early 1800's, was a guardian of the French Rooms there {Casey}.-----, from Co. Cork, settled at Robin Hood {now part of Port Rexton} about 1800 {MUN Folklore}. Richard Della de Poeur, from the north of France, settled at Portugal Cove South; the name was later changed to POWER {MUN Folklore}. Early instances: Maurice, John and Thomas, of little Placentia {now Argentia, was once a U.S.A.F. Base}, about 1730-5 {Co 194.9}; Thomas, from Waterford, thief of St.John's, 1751 {Co 194.13}; Robert of Freshwater Bay {un-specified},? 1753 {Co 194.13}; John, butcher of Bell Island, 1794-5, "40 years in Newfoundland", that is 1754--5 {census 1794--5}; Edward, of Port de Grave, 1760 (co 199. 18); Maurice, of Trinity Bay. There are many many other names written, but I hope this helps a little tidbit. Should you need more info. concerning different Communities where other POWER families resided in Newfoundland, feel free in emailing me. Have A Great Evening Evelyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vera Short" <short9647@rogers.com> To: <NFLD-LAB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 9:38 PM Subject: [NFLD-LAB] Fw: The source of the "Power" surname > forwarded on behalf of dmeaux@houston.rr.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Meaux" <dmeaux@houston.rr.com> > To: "Lloyd Rowsell" <lgrowsell@yahoo.com>; <NFLD-ROOTS-L@rootsweb.com> > Cc: <NFLD-LAB-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 5:59 PM > Subject: {not a subscriber} The source of the "Power" surname > > > > I've recently subscribed to this list as a result of my search for my > > Canadian/Irish ancestry. I hope my request here does not fall outside of > > the intent of this message board. > > > > I'm an American but my mother was a native of St.Johns (where I was in > fact, > > born but on an American military installation in the late 50's). Her > maiden > > name was Power. While this name appears quite common in Newfoundland and > > especially St.Johns, it is very uncommon here in the states. > > > > Anyway, I have a lot of work to do and don't expect to figure it all out > at > > once but my first question is, to anyone who might be able to answer.... > > > > What is the origin of the "Power" name and when did the first make their > way > > to Newfoundland? I have heard one story that it has its origins in the > name > > "Del la de Poure", which implies a Spanish origin. However, I have my > > doubts about that. > > > > any help would be appreciated > > > > thanks > > > > David Meaux > > > > Houston, Texas > > > > (grandson of Thomas Power, taxi driver/owner, died age 48 in 1960, of > Scott > > Street, St.Johns) > > > > > > > > > ==== NFLD-LAB Mailing List ==== > Co-List Admins of Nfld-Lab mail list: > Vera Short : short9647@rogers.com > Glynn Hewlett: glynn.hewlett@sympatico.ca > >