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Research in Other Countries => Europe => Topic started by: BlythSpartan on Tuesday 07 May 19 20:56 BST (UK)

Title: Belgian Names
Post by: BlythSpartan on Tuesday 07 May 19 20:56 BST (UK)
Hi all,

I've been having some trouble tracing my Belgian descendants. My Great grandfather was Alfons Liessens, who I believe was from Temse, East Flanders, son of Joseph. He married a war widow, my great grandma in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1919 and lived in the north east of England until his death in 1939.
However, I've no further substantiated evidence about his family who he left behind, other than some possible links to two soldiers who unfortunately were killed during WW1.
Marc Arthur and Pierre Francois Liessens were both born in Temse - Pierres record actually had him living in the same street as Alfons had been (according to his UK marriage certificate) - his father was also called Joseph and mother Philomena (my Great Aunt, one of Alfons children was also named Philomena).
The trouble is, on the records I've found for Marc and Pierre, the surname of their father is Amedee or Amedee Van Zoon, yet his childrens surnames were Liessens. Is this normal? Am I barking up the wrong tree? Do Belgian naming traditions differ to those in the UK?
I'm a tad confused!
Thanks for any advice, wisdom or help offered in advance.
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: BelgianAncestry on Tuesday 07 May 19 21:28 BST (UK)
In case you mean Marcus Arthur Liessens born 1887 and Pierre Francois Liessens born 1894: on their birth records the father is not mentioned as "Van Zoon" but as Liessens. Maybe you've read "zoon van" somewhere which means "son of".
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: BlythSpartan on Tuesday 07 May 19 22:30 BST (UK)
Ah, how naive of me. I can't believe I didn't even try to translate that - I've spent ages trying to translate all sorts of words and phrases but never that. Thank you.

The record I have found is here:
https://database.namenlijst.be/publicsearch/#/military_entity/_id=e40d51bc-d5c0-4cf9-a596-b5fdda305f13

That is for Marc (Marcus).

Where can I find their birth records? And finding one for my great grandfather, Alfons would be a huge step in opening up this branch of my tree.

Thanks again and apologies for my stupidity!!!


Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: Viktoria on Tuesday 07 May 19 23:26 BST (UK)
Also, women on marriage do not lose their maiden name.
So Mary Jones marries John Smith ,she becomes Mrs.Smith -Jones.
Viktoria.
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: TreeSpirit on Wednesday 08 May 19 06:06 BST (UK)
Alfons Frans LIESSENS b 24 Jan 1889 (6 am) Temsche. Note: Birth was registered on the same day
Son of Jozef Amedie LIESSENS, 25Y, labourer and Philomena VERGAUWEN, 22Y
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP6S-CVW?i=166&cc=2138513&cat=13349 (bottom right)


Sister: Maria Lucia b 20 Mar 1886 10pm (registered the next day)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPD9-D4N?i=845&cc=2138513&cat=13349

Brother: Marcus Arthur b 9 oct 1887 8pm (registered the next day)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PD9-84D?i=998&cc=2138513&cat=13349

Sister: Maria Joanna b 29 Nov 1890 10am (registered that same day)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P6S-H6B?i=364&cc=2138513&cat=13349

etc
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: TreeSpirit on Wednesday 08 May 19 06:49 BST (UK)
At the moment I need to head off, so I don’t have the time to transcribe the details but here is the marriage of the parents:

Josephus Amedeus LIESSENS
X  10 Jun 1885 Temsche
Philomena VERGAUWEN
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PD9-ZN8?i=1233&cc=2138513&cat=13349

Start of their "huwelijksbijlagen" (required doco for their marriage)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G99K-Q4XC?i=1258&cc=2138513&cat=13349
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: garstonite on Wednesday 08 May 19 08:13 BST (UK)
this tree owner has a Philomena Vergauwen b 1860 in Temse , Oost -Vlaanderen,Belgiium
he may have info on Philomenas family ?

https://gw.geneanet.org/deruyvermarc?n=vergauwen&oc=&p=philomena
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: TreeSpirit on Wednesday 08 May 19 08:23 BST (UK)

The right Philomena would have been born abt 1866 ....
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: garstonite on Wednesday 08 May 19 08:45 BST (UK)

The right Philomena would have been born abt 1866 ....

Yes I know that - but same name and same town - the tree owner may have info on the family - with a bit of luck  :)
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: TreeSpirit on Wednesday 08 May 19 13:25 BST (UK)
Josephus Amedeus LIESSENS b 2 Jul 1863 (2 am?) Temsche
Son of Franciscus LIESSENS, 38Y (?) farmer and Joanna Catharina BOELS
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GGNY-S3YQ?i=57&cc=2138513&cat=13349

Marriage 9 Apr 1856 Temsche - Franciscus LIESSENS X Joanna Catharina BOELS
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GNR-9MFZ?i=292&cc=2138513&cat=13349
Start “huwelijksbijlagen”: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YJ5-4N4?i=270&cc=2138513&cat=13349


Philomena VERGAUWEN b 23 Mar 1866 (3 am?) Temsche
Daughter of Michael VERGAUWEN, 44Y, day labourer and Lucia VERHEYDEN, 27Y
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GNB-1F?i=334&cc=2138513&cat=13349

Marriage  16 Dec 1863 Temsche - Michael VERGAUWEN X Lucia VERHEYDEN
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GNT-9MFZ?i=263&cc=2138513&cat=13349
Start “huwelijksbijlagen: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G99V-84RX?i=372&cc=2138513&cat=13349
Title: Re: Belgian Names
Post by: BlythSpartan on Wednesday 08 May 19 15:55 BST (UK)
Thank you so much - this has opened up a whole new avenue for me to explore, I really appreciate the time you have spent getting this information for me.
Thanks once again :)