Hi Ainslee: At 01:19 PM 3/5/01 +1100, you wrote: >Hi all, my scottish surnames are Balcanquall and Nairn. Any info appreciated. Ainslee Checking the book: "The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin, Meaning, and History" by George F. Black, Ph.D., (Edinburgh, Scotland: Birlinn Limited, 1996); ISBN: 1-874744-83-1. On p 44 there's a paragraph pertaining to "BALCANQUHALL, Balcanquhal" which indicates the name appears to be originally from the parish of Strathmiglo in Fife, Scotland. The same paragraph identified a Belmacancolle in Edinburgh ca 1340, de Belancko in Fife ca 1373, de Balmacankow ca 1395, de Balcancolle in St. Andrews ca 1440, de Balcancole in Kirkaldy ca 1448, Balcancoll and Balcanquoll ca 1517, Ballincankol in "lands of Carmoir" ca 1550, Maccanqueill (Backanquhale, Balkanquholle, and Backanquehell) ca 1575, Ballincanquell ca 1624, Balcanq ca 1640, Balcanquaill ca 1653, Balcanquo ca 1639, Balganquhill ca 1642 and Ballincankoll. None of the latter names show a location. The author also says: "See Maccanquall", however there is no listing for that name, but there is a very short listing for "Maccanquell" on p 464. Checking the same volume for "Nairn" shows (on p 623) "NAIRN, Nairne" and goes on to state "The first Nairn recorded appears * * * de Narryn * * * at Inverness in 1361". Apparently the author believes the name was derived "* * * from the burgh of the same name". Some of the variant spellings are: de Narne, de Narn, Narn, Narne, Neorne, Nairn, Nairne, Naern and Naerne. The dates range from 1361 to 1882 and the area involved appears to be mainly in Perthshire, Scotland with one in Stirlingshire and one in Fife. Other surnames in the book are: Allen, Bartlet, Bennet, Chalmers, Coles, Dickson, Edwards, Frank, Knight, Lovell, Main, Martin, Matheson, Moor, Parson, Salter, Sanders, Stephen, Walsh, Warren, and Wyatt. I hope the above information proves helpful. Because of the volume of surnames matching your list of interest, I'd strongly recommend you obtain a copy of the book, or at least check with your local library for a copy. Have a great day and a better tomorrow. -- See Ya' -- Clyde "Clyde Lapsley"<CLapsley@worldnet.att.net>

Hi all, my scottish surnames are Balcanquall and Nairn. Any info appreciated. Ainslee ------------------------------------------------------------- arhooper@dingoblue.net.au http://members.dingoblue.net.au/~ainslee_hooper/ - updated as of 27/02/01 Interested in your German/Australian roots? subscribe to AUS-GERMAN-L-REQUEST@rootsweb.com ICQ - 44241689 Surnames of interest : Adams , Allen , Amos , Ash , Balcanquall , Barrett , Bartlett , Bennett , Bryant , Chalmers , Cole , Collard , Deller , Dickson, Edwards , Evans , Evans Parsons , Evans , Franks/Franke/Frank , Haurt , Holwell , Hooper , Jay , Kingwell , Knight , Lavers , Lochlan , Lovell , Main , Martin , Matheson , Moore , Nairn , O'Connor , Painter/Paynter, Parish , Parsons , Perkins , Perrin , Purchase , Salter , Sanders, Sargeant , Shehay/Sheehy , Stanbury , Stephens , Tancock , Titcher , Toe , Walsh , Warren , Wren/Reen , Wyatt