HUGUENOTS-WALLOONS-EUROPE-L Archives

From: "Andrea Vogel" <>
Subject: [HWE] Walloons in the Fenland (from Ewen book)
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 10:20:59 -0700

Hello, listers --

Last week, the location of Thorney (Cambridgeshire, ENG) was mentioned
on the list. Here is an excerpt from the book "History of the Surnames of
the British Isles" by Cecil L'Estrange Ewen (pgs. 204-205) which is about
that area. And yes, for those who are wondering, I am sure of my source this
time! <g>

This excerpt was found under the heading Walloons in the Fenland as part
of a
chapter on surnames of the 15th-17th centuries.

"Colonies of French or Walloon Protestant refugees became established in
the Fen Country, where from their experience of drainage, gained in the Low
Countries, they proved of assistance to the great Dutch engineer, VERMUYDEN,
in carrying out his enterprise of reclaiming the inundated land. The names
of some of these industrious and courageous people have been preserved in
the baptism register of the Abbey Church at Thorney (Cambs.), from which the
following selection is taken: --
ALIS, AMORY, DE BARGE, BORN, BRASSAR, BRIMBELL, CAGE,
CAILLET, CAS, CLAYS, COCLAR, COPLAND, CORNUT, DOBY,
DOMSEN, DORÉ, DORNELLE, EGAR, LE FEVRE, FLEURBAYE,
FLOUR, FONTAINE, FROUCHAR, GANTE, LE GRAIN, GUIBSON,
LE HAIRE, HANOT, HECKLIN, HENNIN, HENNOC, LANSEL, LATTÉ,
LERMIT, LISY, MANIÉ or MONEY, MASENGARBE, MILVIL, MINET,
NOTTEAU, OTTER, PAREN or PARENT, PIERSON, PINCHON, LE PLA, PLANCQ, POTIER,
DU QUESNE, QUINCE, RAMERY, RIS, DE RIVIERE,
LE ROY, DE LA RUE, SALMON, SAUVAGE, SCRIBAU, SIX, SMACQ,
LE TALLE, TERY, UGIL, VENINS, WANTIER, WATTIER, ZOMBRE.
(Footnote for the above: Register of Baptisms of the French Church at
Thorney, ed. by H. Peet, Huguenot Soc., vol. xvii.)

Notice that Ewen states that this is a "selection" of names from this
source. So, of course, there would be more names in the actual register
than are listed above. We have no idea why Ewen selected these particular
names because he doesn't give a reason.

Draining of fenland (marshes) was also done by refugees at Sandtoft in
Lincolnshire, many of them later going to Thorney. You can find more
information about Sandtoft through either of these two methods --
a) in the list archives (use keyword: Sandtoft). There are 23 past messages
which mention Sandtoft in the archives. One of them gives a listing of all
surnames from the only surviving records.
b) on the list website, go to Huguenot Links & Sites in the Beyond the
Basics section, then select England. A URL there will lead you to a history
of the Sandtoft community and chapel as well as a listing of all the entries
from the chapel records.

If anyone is researching Sandtoft or Thorney, let's hear from you!
Andrea

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• [HWE] Walloons in the Fenland (from Ewen book) by "Andrea Vogel" <>