Elaine - You're doing a great job with your names - keeping an open mind - and that is very hard for genealogists to do, ESPECIALLY Germanic ones! Your Kusc sounds as though it may have come from Kusch or Kuscha or Kuschadk or Kuschak or Kusche or Kuschel or Kuschke - each one translating to Jacob. It would sound logical to follow your train of thought with your grandfather and great-grandfather - but I think if you chase down enough documents you will find proof. People changed names drastically sometimes, especially those unpronounceable to Americans - and sometimes they were given no choice and afraid to protest. There were no spelling rules in place until around 1875-1900 and it took another 10 or 20 years to settle in; plus many people paid no attention to the rules, as I see in e-mails all the time now! Some were illiterate, possibly able to sign a paper and that's all. Looking in the German and other ethnic newspapers is an excellent source. If you take a look at Hoffman's Polish Names, Kusch points to Kusz- and that indicates Jakusz or Kusza, "crossbow", Kusch, Kusy, Kuszaj, Kuszczak, Kuszel, Kuszewski, Kuszka, Kuszyk, Kuszynski (diacritical over n). In Bahlow's German Names, Kusch, Kusche, Kuscha, Kuschel, Kuschke, Kuschnik (East German, Slavic) are probably shortened from Jakusch, Mikusch (Nikusch), likewise Nusche, Nuschke from Janusch(ke). The 'ke' ending generally indicates an origin from the northern areas, usually the Baltic Sea and may have one of several meanings; little one, son of, kin of (whatever the first part of the name is). For Marquardt (with the second r) Bahlow says: Markward(t), North German often, also Markword(t), rarely dissimilated to Markwald; also Marquardt (frequently), patronymnic Marquardsen (Schleswig-Holstein), Hamburg, Bremen; "border guard"; Merklin (Marquard) von Niuvar 1327, Märk (Marquard) von Schellenberg 1400, Merk Glungk. Württenberg 1523. In German, the letters T, D, DT and TH all sound like D. And C, K and G all sound pretty much like K. There's more, but your eyes would glaze over. The other name, Bruchesci - may come from Old English Brooke - or Low German Brücker (from the bridge). Wonder, just wonder, if Brusch and Kusch may be connected, though very different sounds, possibly mistranscribed somewhere. Bottom line, record each and every variety of the names, since one is likely no more "correct" than the other until very modern times, but pay more attention to the sounds as they evolve over time and place - not the American sound, but the German and Polish and perhaps Czech or other Slavic sounds. And keep tracking - you're doing great! Curiosity and networking and serendipity all help. Maureen Schoenky ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.