Surname Saturday: VALK

The VALK line is my main maternal line. I've been able to trace this line back nine generations (not including my own) to my 7th-great-grandfather, named Geert, thanks to patronymics. VALK is a surname that appears in many countries in Western Europe, especially those in the Germanic language family; the name means "falcon."

Stories and History:

The VALK Family History on my website.

Ahnentafel #768 - Geert, b. c. 1695

Ahnentafel #384 - Jouke Geerts - b. c. 1724. His marriage record states he was married 23 Mar 1749 in Koudum, Hemelumer Oldeferd, Friesland, the Netherlands - my earliest documented VALK ancestor

Ahnentafel #192 - Jantje Joukes VALK (1753 - 1817) - first known VALK ancestor to actually use the surname; the Netherlands was under French control at this time, and in 1811, the French government ordered all the Dutch to choose a surname

Ahnentafel #96 - Tjemme Jantjes VALK (1786 - 1842) - moves from Hemelumer Oldeferd to Ferwerderadeel, the municipality (similar to a U.S. county) in which the VALK family remains until immigration to America

Ahnentafel #48 - Wieger Tjemmes VALK (1827 - 1888) - after his death, his wife, Trijntje Gerrits DOLSTRA, immigrates to America to live with their only child

Ahnentafel #24 - Tjamme ("James") Wiegers VALK (1860 - 1922) - immigrates to Illinois with his fiancée, Berber ("Barbara") J. DeJONG in 1882. After their marriage and living for approximately 5 years in Rock Island, they move to Western Michigan, where VALKs continue to live to this day.

Ahnentafel #12 - William James VALK - (1886 - 1950) - fathered 16 children between two marriages (only 12 survived infancy), plus raised a stepson

Ahnentafel #6 - William ("Bill") VALK - (1912 - 1989) - my paternal grandfather, WWII veteran

Ahnentafel #3 - my mother (living)

Ahnentafel #1 - myself

More about the VALK family:

1. Online database (I update this at least once a month): VALK ancestors and relatives (no info on living persons available)

2. Some VALK obituaries

3. Posts about VALK ancestors and relatives on this blog

4. Some scanned VALK documents

5. Some scanned VALK photos

6. My VALK Virtual Cemetery on Find A Grave


My VALK immigration trail:

Koudum, Hemelumer Oldeferd, Friesland, the Netherlands > Marrum, Ferwerderadeel, Friesland, the Netherlands > Rock Island Co., IL > Ottawa Co., MI > Kent Co., MI > AK > Stevens Co., WA > Spokane Co., WA