My paternal surname is Benzschawel - which is a combination of the names Benz and Schawel. Everyone is the world with this surname - and there aren't many can be traced back to this particular family in Ockfin (Ackfin), Saarland. I have found the name Schawel in Hamm and other small cities that are practically within walking distance. Somewhere I read that when a family bought property they sometimes would combine their name with the original owners such as ...if the land belonged to the Schawel's and the Benz' bought it - it would become the land of the BenzSchawel's. Can anyone offer help... I have the family line back to the mid 1700's in the same town and the name is still Benzshawel. Any info would be appreciated Sue Benzschawel-Davis