Monday, January 19, 2009

Denis Onan

My earliest documented ancestor is Denis Onan. He was born ca. 1720, most likely the grandson of Jean Onan. In 1743 he was living in Bucks County PA, where his daughter Mary was born. Denis also had 3 sons, Dennis, born 1748, William (my line), born 1753 and James, born in 1755. There may also have been a daughter named Rebecca born in 1750.

The family moved back to Virginia and was well established there by the year 1776 and in that year Denis signed a Dissenter's Petition.
Source - Treasure Up the Memory by James Frederick O'Nan

What's In a Name?

The Onan name originated in France. The earliest name on record in this country is contained in a list of French refugees (Huguenots) arriving at King William's Town in Virginia aboard the Peter and Anthony out of London, England in 1700. Here, in the Virginia Historical Society Collections, Vol. 5, New Series, pages 24 and 27, is set down the name of Jean Onan, his wife and one child.

Onan researchers in my family have said in regards to various spellings of the Onan name that "the old folks knew how to spell their name, and that ONAN was not a misspelling of O'Nan." Most families today spell their surname with the latter but back in history it is always Onan.