Thanks, Maureen. And just when the waters were beginning to clear.... But I do appreciate this information. And who knows; somewhere down the line we may be related. After all, you do have a "ky" ending and I have "ke". Hmm. Herb Spaghettitree@aol.com wrote: Hi Herb - I changed the subject line to Teske - otherwise people won't know who you're looking for in the archives. I found, in Bahlow's Dictionary of German Names: Teske (frequently in Pomerania, Mecklenburg, Hamburg) pet form of Slavic personal name Tesmar, see Techen. Specifically Tesseke Slavus, Stralsund around 1300, also frequently in Rostock (13th century). Likewise Teß. Tessem (Tessen miles [soldier], Greifswald 1298). Documentary examples for the frequent family name Tes(s)mer, Tesmar in H. Witte (Mecklenburg Jahrbuch 1906, p. 262) see Tessemarus de Campiz, Mecklenburg 1286. Also in place names like Teschenhagen in Pomerania (1426 Teskenhagen), Teschendorf in Mecklenburg. Also Tessmann frequently for Tessmer. Hence Tessloff besides Tetzloff, which see. So - you will have many spellings to chase after, as well as many handwritings. It is better to record them as you find them, since you can't really "correct" them and they keep evolving. The above is from just one book, one author's opinion and level of expertise. Maureen Schoenky ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message