I know on my fathers side he was related to the old music hall star
Beatrice Lilley.
On my mother's side there is a connection to Maples stores.
I've never traced anything back.
Have you any famous ancestors?
Only asked because two of my German ancestors (brothers) worked in the family agricultural machinery business in Germany which was the leaders of the field (no pun) in the day.
The Americans showed great interest in modern agricultural methods and the family hierachy in Germany sent the two brothers to the US to promote the family firm.
On passage to the States the US civil war started and on landing stateside they were both blackganged into a Confederate or Union army. One escaped and captured by the opposing army. He was wounded. The other brother deserted and somehow met up with his wounded brother. They both decamped and jumped on the first ship,working their passage, out of the States. They ended up in Swansea docks where they settled and married the local girls.
Not famous but intriguing family history. My family name originally, prior to Anglification, started with Von so I may be an heir to a German schloss in Germany somewhere. :-)
That's interesting Retro, and the Germans keep excellent records, so should be reasonably easily traceable. Lots haven't been digitised yet though so that's slightly awkward but the info is there, you just have to dig for it as it's all regionally held. I love family history, my Dad started me at it and it's fascinating, we have a very diverse family. x
Calicogirl
Unfortunateley not quite so simple. For some unknown reason , believed to be clerical,the landing papers of the two brothers had their Family name misspelt. It is believed that the original ending was BORN but or name ending is slightly different.I get many variations of my name in mail. Berg,Borg etc. I always have to spell my surname phonetically on the phone and I still get the incorrect surname written in reply. :-(. Most of my family in the States and in Wales are on the case. That is why I have information about Paddle Steamer skippers and civil war combatants. We were also a Teutonic Baronial family who were guardians of a spring on the border of Germany and Austria apparently.
That's really awkward Retro, I have a huge problem with one branch of the Irish family we have, because everything there was spelled phonetically too and depending on where the person writing it down was from could be really, really diverse. If you've managed to make the 'jump' to your satisfaction with them, then awesome, you seem to have good solid info.
My great uncle apparently traced our family tree. We're related to the Marquess of Montrose who was hung, drawn and quartered for treason but was later given a pardon.