OUR
EXPLANATION
As in the Mansfeld theory, our explanation is also only
assumed but it seems to fit just the same if not a little better.
The
furthest back we have been able to trace our family tree in one solid
line is 1590 AD, it does however continue in bits and pieces to the
thirteenth century.
The name originates as "van Kauwen" by
the third solid generation it changes to "van Couwen"
most likely just by a simple misspelling.
(NOTE: In history there are countless changes in
the spelling of words due mainly to the fact that most of the
population was illiterate or at least some what illiterate.)
This
persons younger siblings still however carried the original spelling
of the name.
This person of the third generation "Aert van Couwen"
marries twice, the first marriage produces a child "Gerrit
(George) van Couwen" who in adulthood journeys' between
Holland and England on the trade routes open at the time. Eventually
this person settles in England and operates his fathers' business
affairs overseas.
View
the Family Tree (as
theorized by my family)
This is where the assumptions begin on our part
It is believed that he marries an English maiden "Sarah ??"
and starts a family. Having
now moved to England he experiences what most people of Dutch origin
experience after moving to an anglo nation
"THE NAME CHANGE" "van Couwen" to
"Vancouwen".
Sometime
later a child is born "John Jasper Vancouven"
and again as you notice the name changes this time possibly by accident
the "w" is changed to a "v"
most likely by bad penmanship in the township records, or quite possibly
because there is no word in the English language that places a "u"
and "w" next to each other.
John
Jasper marries "Bridget Berners" and they
have a family, however again the last name experiences a change; it
is not known whether this happened with the birth of the children
or with the marriage certificate "Vancouven" to
"Vancouver" (poor finishing of a
lowercase N could make it look like a lowercase R) this was
again was caused by bad penmanship in the township records or simple
human error.
Four
changes to the name over three generations
van Couwen
Vancouwen
Vancouven
Vancouver
van
Couwen
- Vancouwen - Vancouven
- Vancouver
simply
even looking at the name of my ancestors makes you have to look twice
vancouwen - Vancouver
then
compare it to
van coeverden -
Vancouver
both likely possibilities, but in our opinion
the first one fits better