DENMARK-L Archives

Archiver > DENMARK > 2002-03 > 1015378838


From: "Sue Schon" <>
Subject: Re: [DK] Surname Research
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 20:40:38 -0500
References: <12e.d7f95a6.29b6a0ed@aol.com> <3.0.6.32.20020305172935.007cfc10@earthlink.net>


Rock wrote:
"Did anyone point out to you that Schou/Schov is a variant spelling of the
more common Skov, meaning "woods"?
You may be better served if you consider that your Schou ancestors at some
point used patronyms, last names that changed from generation to
generation."

Hi, Rock,

I found out the meaning of Skov at the family.kofoed.org website back in
January when I first started on the quest for my ancestors. I just happened
to stumble on the website. :-) Also first heard about patronyms there.

I have two problems here. My brother tells me that my father told him the
Schou branch (this fits with "woods", doesn't it?) came from Germany
originally. Whether this means Germany proper or the part of Denmark
occupied by Germany, I don't know. I have found some Schous/Skovs (and other
variations on the spelling) in Germany, but so far no connections.

The only family documentation I have for my g-grandfather, Albert Julius
Schou, is his name on my grandfather's birth certificate (1884), and a
document in which a Kaptain Clausen gave retired Stabsergent A.J. Schou
power of attorney in 1904. (Steen Erik was kind enough to translate the
first paragraph for me). Until I find a record somewhere that has his
parents' names, I can't go any further, not even into patronyms (and, being
forewarned by other listers, I fully expect to get into those!). I did find
his marriage record at familysearch.org. and the film should tell me his
age, I hope. I also found a christening record for an Albert Julius Schou in
1838 (Trinitatis, København). This may be a relation, but it can't be him.
That would make him 45 at his marriage in 1883, which is possible, except
that I was told he was still alive in 1942 when his son died (and that would
make him 104).

Today I ordered my first films at the LDS Family History Center and I'm
hoping to find out more. I look at it this way...I know more now than I did
a month ago, and I can't believe how absorbed (obssessed?) I've become with
it.

Thanks for your input, and welcome back to the Mainland!
Sue

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, USA.
Researching SCHOU, SCHOV, BARBY, JONASSEN, PETERSEN, and NIELSEN.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rockne Johnson" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 7:29 PM
Subject: [DK] Surname Research


> Hi Sue,
>
> I followed with interest your letters to the DENMARK list. Did anyone
> point out to you that Schou/Schov is a variant spelling of the more common
> Skov, meaning "woods"? The spelling of Danish words with "ch" instead of
> "k" came in and out of fashion with the popularity of Germany. This was
> heavily influenced by the outcome of wars with the Prussians. I know that
> there are times and places where surname research will work in Denmark but
> at most times and in most places it doesn't.
>
> Skov, like Woods, can be a very common name in Danish as in English. A
> more direct English cognate is SHAW, an older English word for woods.
>
> You may be better served if you consider that your Schou ancestors at some
> point used patronyms, last names that changed from generation to
generation.
>
> Rock
>
>
>
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