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Archiver > DNA-R1B1C7 > 2008-10 > 1223424290


From: "Steve Ewing" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA-R1B1C7] Dubious Paternity descriptions
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 20:04:55 -0400


Even the Ewing surname (like many others) has numerous questions about its
origin and how the people who bear it came by it. The fact that David and I
are part of the larger R1B1C7 (now R1B1B2e) "tree", as well as a large
portion of the Ewing's currently involved in the Ewing DNA study, is at odds
with a prevailing theory in our family that the Ewings were descended from
native British Celts (which should put us into subclade more consistent with
many of the Welsh than the Gaelic Irish) and as apparently caused some
little consternation among some of our kit and kin!

Even the spelling of the surname Ewing varies in the traditional
genealogical records in Scotland and Ireland depending on what clerk or
churchman recorded it that day. Is Ewing really just a spelling variation on
the given name Ewan (which is also spelled Ewen, Ewin, Euen.....) and
therefore taken from the Irish Gaelic, Eoghan (Owen), the Scottish Gaelic,
Eoghainn (Yowen), or from some other source?

Steve Ewing


In a message dated 10/7/2008 9:33:31 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
writes:

Don't forget that a man can end up with a surname not belonging to his
biological father in many ways that do not involve any extra-marital
affairs, so we don't want to choose a term that implies such. I am sure
this
is not a complete list, but for starters:

One can be adopted, formally or informally, and take the name of the
adoptive father and/or mother. One can choose or be assigned a new surname
for a host of reasons, ranging from running from the law to moving from one
culture into another that has different surname practices. Some slaves took
their former master's names, many others took surnames of people they
admired. Many people at Ellis Island were given new surnames because the
American officials there found the actual names difficult. Names can be
just
flat made up from scratch. Many Navajos nowadays have the surname Begay,
because when asked their names long ago, they gave their father's name and
added "Begay," which means "his son" in Navajo.

David Ewing


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