> Hi, I have just been added to this list and wondered if anyone > had information on the HOWRIE/HOURIE family? My maiden name is > HOWRIE and I have been able to trace the family to the Orkneys > back to the 1650s - I haven't got anything like a family tree yet > though and as I am new to all this (and living in Australia) any > snippets of information would be most gratefully received. Howrie/Hourie is pronounced "Hoorie" and probably comes from the West Mainland parish of Evie, possible from the farm of Horry. However, there is/was also a farm called Horrie in inthe East Mainland parish of St Andrews, which is another possible origin for the name. There are still Houries in the islands but only three or four. -- Sigurd Towrie - Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney E-Mail: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Orkneyjar - The Heritage of Orkney: http://www.orkneyjar.com