This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Young, Schenck, Schieck
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/EOH.2ACIB/115.167.176.178.196
Message Board Post:
Have you any idea as to the origins of the name Schenck? Is it possible it sprang from
Schieck for any reason? My grandmother and her family immigrated with her mother and
siblings on the Westernland in 1885. They were all Schiecks. Paul(e/a), born 1853, my
great grandmother, was French but all were listed as Prussian: Marie, 1877, my
grandmother; Ottelie, 1880; Paula 1880; Joseph 1884. My grandmother always claimed that
she was related to Joseph M. and Nicholas M. Schenck. They were Rybinsk, Russia, and did
own Woodcliff Pleasure Park in Poughkeepsie where my grandfather was head groundskeeper.
But Joseph claimed to have been born and immigrated slightly later than 1885. So while on
the one hand I question that they were siblings, on the other hand he may have changed
even his birthdate and family as a result of some informal adoption as such arrangements
were rampant in those days and my great-grandmother reportedly died not long after their
arrival here. But who kn!
ows? I have no idea as to where my great-grandmother or my grandmother were actually
born in Europe. But are you aware of any information as to the possibility that some
people changed their names from Schieck (crooked) to Schenck (innkeeper) between 1890 and
1820?
Sincerely,
Robin Roy