The PETRISSANS Family

Here we are with Aitatxi George (Feb. 2004)

Ongi Etorri--newest cousin, Mikayla Petrissans Duhart

This story begins here in the Basque Country in
Etxeberria--Donostiri, 
Nafarroa Beherea in the Basque Country where my grandfather George was born

Great-grandfather, Geaxa

PETRISSANS.  This surname, from Mom's dad, is not specifically a Basque surname in origin.  It appears to a Latin word that means "St. Peter".  The Basques were some of the latest converts to Christianity in about the 8th century.  Since then, they became some of the most avid believers.  With this conversion, some original Basque names were dropped in favor of Christian names, and this extended into surnames.  It is not a unique name since there are other folks with the same surname and there's no connection that we know about.  Great Uncle Xan Minaberry told me that this name might be dervied from "Petri Santxo".  
    
Today in Nafarroa, some folks with the same name spell it in modern Basque as "Petrizans."  There might be a connection with these folks, because we know that an earlier ancestor migrated from Nafarroa over the Pyrenees into Nafarroa Beherea.  Grandfather Georges' family is from the town of Donostiri (St. Esteban) in Nafarroa Beherea.

Aitatxi Georges' brothers & sisters are:

Jean Baptiste

Laurentina

Micharlot

Maitecha

Ongi etorri to my newest cousin, Nekane!