To all the Welsh DUers, Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus! (Happy St. David's Day!)

[Siwsan]

Even Google got into the spirit, today:

[Suich]

1. Pssst...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=319412

[Siwsan]

2. Diolch! (Thanks!)

I was beginning to feel a little lonely!

[geardaddy]

3. Diolch yn fawr!

Gest ti gŵyl neis?

[CTyankee]

4. My birth name is Williams, the Welsh side of my family.

Probably one of the commonest Welsh names...

[pinboy3niner]

5. My surname may be the MOST common of Welsh names

But my family is all Irish. The surname comes from my grandmother's first of three husbands (all of whom she outlived, God Bless that County Cork blood). He was a Welsh coal miner in Pennsylvania.

So, while I proudly count myself as Irish, I'm also proud of my Welsh coal miner roots.

[CTyankee]

7. My first guess would be Jones!

On my Scottish side, my forebears were Campbells, another pretty common name.

[pinboy3niner]

8. No, that's not it

It's Evans. And, coupled with my first name, it tends to get me confused with a certain (late) pork producer and restauranteur in the U.S.

When I went out to Ohio to volunteer for Kerry in '04 and wound up managing the phone banks, I began my volunteer briefings by saying that I didn't know how they knew I was coming but I was overwhelmed by their welcome. Driving into Ohio, all I saw were big signs: Bob Evans, Bob Evans, Bob Evans...

So now you know.

[CTyankee]

9. Evans would be on my list. Reese and Davies up there, too.

[pinboy3niner]

10. On the Irish side I come from the O'Connells, the Dempseys and the Whites

My grandfather, Jack Dempsey, lived on the block behind Mayor Daley in Chicago and served for more than 50 years as head usher at the local Parish. We'd sit on Grandpa Jack's stoop and see the lights flash when the White Sox scored at Commiskey Park.

Jack also was, if not the head patron, one of the major patrons of the local neighborhood tavern.

I don't know a lot about my roots except that Grandma Bea, the oldest of 12 kids, came over with her sister from Ireland in 1900. First to Canada, then down to the States. She was an expert seamstress and soon was promoted to head a factory of seamstresses. Even after she retired to Arizona her old boss kept begging her to come back to Chicago to run his plants. She outlived three husbands and died at the nice age of 97. A very strong lady!

Grandma Bea's dad had been First Mate on a steamer that plied the British Isles. That's about all I know.

[Siwsan]

6. Mine is pretty common, too

Thomas. Every time I've gone to Wales, the name has opened some very friendly doors, because EVERYONE has a Thomas cousin!