Hello:
I am a Twentyman who lives in Virginia, and am descended from mid-to-late-19th-century Carlisle emigrants (first to Ontario, and then to Waukegan (Chicago suburb) around the turn of the century; my grandfather fought in World War II and became a career Army officer and moved around the country before settling down in Fort Belvoir, Virginia). I believe the last of my ancestors born in England was a Thomas Twentyman (although I could be wrong), who (I think) is my great-great-grandfather (my Twentymans had a habit of producing many children at oddly advanced ages).
The Twentyman name is almost completely unknown in North America; outside of my own lineage (Chicago/Virginia), the only North American Twentyman I know of is a British Columbian tea merchant. Google searches yield a few scattered results in New York and elsewhere, but for the most part the name is completely unknown here (although it seems to be considerably more widespread in Australia and particularly in the north of England, for obvious reasons).
I'm posting for two reasons: first, to give the state of things and an impression of the family's scarcity in America, and second, to ask for any information at all about my Cumbrian ancestors. This is entirely out of personal interest; whatever you could tell me about the family's history, origins, prominence, or prestige would be greatly appreciated. In particular, I'd like to know the origin of the name; about one in ten people I meet have the same curiosity, but I'm afraid that I've never been able to give a good answer (although to my eyes, the twenty (and whatever symbolism that might carry) seems Celtic, and such an origin seems certain given the geography).
Thank you very much for any assistance; the name is almost unknown in North America, with only the two or three other branches that I know of, and the unusual name has been a strange and fascinating puzzle for my entire life. Any information (any at ALL) would be appreciated more than I can express.
- S. Twentyman
