The Swanström coat of arms was assumed (I believe) during or shortly after World War I, perhaps about 1918, and certainly before 1942 by my great uncle Hugo Ferdinand Swanström (1886-1971). The arms might be older. No records exist of the arms assumed and borne by Swedish commoners, so the arms could have come down…
Author: Justin Durand
Origin of the Surname Hauri
An updated version of this information appears on Geni.com. The standard spelling of the name is now Hauri in Switzerland and Haury in Germany. In the United States, the usual spellings are Howery, Howry and Howrey. In early records the name is variously spelled Haury, Höri, Horin and Houri. We find Hovri at 1282, 1303…
Swans in Literature
The Ugly Duckling The story of The Ugly Duckling is perhaps the best known story involving swans. It was written by the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen in 1843 under the title Den grimme ælling. In short, a duckling hatches. His brothers and sisters are normal, but he is ugly and clumsy. He suffers harassment and is eventually…
A Prayer
All-Knowing Zeus,Give me what is best for me,Avert evil from me, though it be the thing I prayed for;And give me the good which from ignorance I do not ask.
Habsburg Connection
I have been re-thinking the Habsburg legend, and have revised my previous opinion in certain respects. To recap: The Hauris are said to be descended from an illegitimate branch of the Counts of Habsburg. As the story goes, the Count brought back a Muslim mistress from the Crusades. Their son took “Houri” as a surname. Houris are…