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The cover:

The illustration above is taken from a pastel by Joseph Kriss, circa 1950.

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Kriss Foundation

This site explores family history in the context of cultural and political events.

Audio & Image Archives

We are continually adding photographs, letters, and other media relating to our family history. Please email new digital images or other media you wish to share. Our goal is to digitize the entire existing collection of 1880-1950 media for future generations. And your comments are always welcome!

Genealogy Online

Visit the interactive online genealogy database covering over 2000 relatives in more than 750 family groups. As a registered user and you can view all living family members as well as update your own nuclear family tree.

Surname origins

Browne

Originally Buchwach in Russia and changed in London by Lewis (Buchwach) Browne to appear more English. Buchwach is a composite name from the German Buche meaning beech tree or beechwood, plus the German wachtel meaning quail. This may have derived first from the Yiddish vakhtl for quail. Possibly related to the more common Buchwald meaning beech forest. Likely a chosen descriptive name when Jews were forced to take surnames between 1750 and 1850 in Germany and Eastern Europe. Buchwach is best translated as 'quail in the beech tree'. Western Ashkenazic Jewish origin, German and Polish location.

More surnames >>

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