Dana's Genealogy Home Page

Etymology: 1. The derivation of a word. 2. An account of the history of a particular word or element of a word.

The etymology of the Nordmann surname, when broken down literally, means, "Man from the North, or Northern region". The name itself has many various spellings such as Nortmann, Nordemann, and Northmann. These variations can be attributed to tendencies like linguistic interpretation, or in the case of our current Nordman spelling, just the desire to be "Americanized". In any case, the surname itself doesn't necessarily represent a solely Germanic origin. Some research shows that it may have Scandinavian or Norwegian roots.

To date, the oldest extant records show that the Nordmann families catalogued here, originate from Schessinghausen, a small rural community located in the outer region of the Hannover province, in Northwestern Prussia. Records prior to the early 1700's were lost due to a fire that completely destroyed the interior of the Husum Church near Schessinghausen. Surviving records show that certain Nordmann families moved to Schessinghausen from another small town outside of Hannover, called Schneeren. Further research has so far, been unable to confirm any exact family link to families in Schneeren. There were many Nordmann family records in Schneeren, Siedenburg, and Apelstedt, but no conclusive links. Hopefully research later in the year will reveal more clues.

The Nordman surname is not the single topic of this web page though. I'd like to devote a little time to another important and prestigious surname. My mother's lineage, McCord, has a long and distinguished heritage. There were quite a few of our ancestors who fought fiercely in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. In fact, there are so many living McCord descendants that there is a group, the McCord Family Association, that is dedicated to the research and preservation of the Clan McCord. The image below is the actual McCord clan tartan.

The McCord surname also has several etymological variations. Early records show: MacKorda, MacCorde, and MacCord derivations, to list a few. Check out their web site for more interesting details about the Clan history.

Recent research by genealogists in Pennsylvania have made great strides in untangling the large list of early 1600-1700 era McCord families, many with the same given names. Contact the McCord society for more details.

I've also published a few pictures of some of my McCord descendants on this site. I've got quite a few more to sift through and I'll be posting more as time permits. You'll know if there is a picture of someone available as there will be a camera icon next to their name.

As of this latest update, I'm still in the process of editing the master file. It has proved daunting to say the least, and the addition of twins of late has sapped whatever little time I had left. I'm still in the process of updating the master file, containing surname additions for every major surname at this site (who knew it would take so long...) The editing process takes a large amount of time so please check my page occasionally for the updates (you'll be able to tell when I've completed everything). To date, there are over 6,000 ancestors catalogued within this tome. The master file now contains over 10,000 linked relatives so where you now find a person with no name or information, expect good things to come.
Jump in and explore our Genealogy page, who knows, you might already be in there! The software used to compile the information and images at this site is called "Generations Family Tree, Grande Suite", by Sierra. It's simple to navigate through, just click on a child, source, or parent name and they will open. You can also search for a specific name individually by going to the "surnames" section and scanning for it alphabetically.

Quite a bit of this information is not officially confirmed so please contact me if you find any errors...or find out that we're related, and you're not listed! Either way, we'd like to hear from you.

On a side note...

A great many of you have contacted me with additions and corrections for which I am very greatful. Please be patient with me while I revise my master file, now over 10,000 names, and I will update the site as soon as I can complete the task.

ALSO...keep an eye out for new family records on my Italian, "Contestabile", and "Bachetta" lineage. There are some relatives in Luxembourg and Italy who are currently devoting some time to assist me in completing a large piece of that portion of the puzzle and I'll look forward to publishing it (With many thanks to all involved!) on this site.

Food for thought...

"Every time we start thinking we're the center of the universe, the universe turns around and says with a slightly distracted air, "I'm sorry, what did you say your name was again?"
Margaret Maron

"To laugh and to love; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exhultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived...this is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882

"We are passengers on the Earth through space, as passengers on a ship, and many of us have never thought of any part of the vessel but the cabin where we are quartered."
S.P. Langley

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"There are in the end, three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians, 12:13

***Last revised on 11/25/07***