11.26.2011

What is in a name?

I have a unique last name, Sutphin.  I rarely run into other Sutphins unless they are close family members.   It is rarer when I see my name on a sign.

Sutphin is a Dutch name.  It was originally Van Zutphen when my ancestors got on a boat in the 17th century for the New World. There is a a city in the Netherlands called Zutphen.  According to Wikipedia,  "The name Zutphen (first mentioned in the eleventh century) appears to mean 'zuid-veen', or in English, 'south-fen'."

Sutphin Boulevard is a long street in Queens, New York.  It is in the area called Jamaica.  Last Sunday I walked a stretch from one subway station to another.  The weather was a perfect fall sunny day.  Along the walk I tried to take a photo every unique sign with my last name.  Below are some of the Sutphins I ran into along the way.

Sutphin BLVD - 112711




Sutphin BLVD - 112711
Sutphin BLVD - 112711
Sutphin BLVD - 112711




Sutphin BLVD - 112711
Sutphin BLVD - 112711




Sutphin BLVD - 112711
Sutphin BLVD - 112711


Sutphin BLVD - 112711
Sutphin BLVD - 112711

Sutphin BLVD - 112711



5 comments:

  1. How interesting we have both been on a family history high! It's wonderful to "meet up" with family as you did.

    My mother was Dutch on both sides, same name on both sides, actually. When I finish with my father's history, I will work on the Dutch. Have you done a family tree?

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  2. Carla, My dad and I started a family tree a few years back, but haven't pursued it since. I should get on that though since some of my informational resources are aging as fast as I am.

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  3. Ancestry.com can be a big help. I'd love to hear more about your tree and what you might find. DNA testing is also available there and I think at National Geographic. That can link you to relatives you didn't know you had!

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  4. Nice to read this! I was born and lived for 26 years in Zutphen in the Netherlands! A few years ago i was in New York and saw Sutphin boulevard on the metro map. Not realizing it was from "Zutphen" .
    U can "visit" zutphen with street view!

    https://maps.google.nl/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=zutphen&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x47c7940b75ecc3ab:0xc4f2a91150249d3c,Zutphen&gl=nl&ei=RMPcUMW8F4qS0QXL34GIBw&ved=0CDQQ8gEwAA

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    Replies
    1. Erik - You are the first person that I've met from Zutphen. Thank you for the great link and a connection to the home of my ancestors.

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So,what are you thinking about?