Posted By:	Bernard Alexander
	Email:
	Subject:	Re: Cushman=Couchman
	Post Date:	July 27, 2005 at 14:51:28
	Message URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/couchman/messages/75.html
	Forum:	Couchman Family Genealogy Forum
	Forum URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/couchman/

Hi Jack, I think the Mayflower/Speedwell/Fortune group connects back to Thomas COUCHMAN from Hawkhurst, IIRC. The problem being that pre-1500's you don't have parish records to consult, but I've been told that the name COUCHMAN and all of its spelling variants came from the Norman or French word " Cuisse " meaning thigh/upper front leg. Apparently, making armor for this part of the body was left to the "cuisse" man. I think the word is pronounced "qwish" and from that you could make a case for " qwishman " ergo CUSHMAN or COUCHMAN. In Kent today they would most likely pronounce COUCHMAN as CUSHMAN. I understand that Shakespeare makes reference to " qwishes "in one of his plays. I think you have to have an open mind when it comes to surnames and their spellings. I have seen copies of Wills that show the same name being spelled three different ways in the same document. It's all in the 'ear' of the beholder ! Bernard.