Most of us have heard the phrase, lyrics or idiom, "Stick and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Turns out that's not true! Names have been injuring and killing people for millenia! Yes, names hurt! I knew that when I was a kid. It's the whole reason why people insult each other by name calling. There are so many lies that are told to children for reasons that make entirely no sense in any way whatsoever. It's really rather sad.
I was 7 years old before I could finally, without assistance, spell my last name. I was pretty proud of myself. Quocksister - "Q-U-O-C-K-S-I-S-T-E-R". There it is! All eleven letters of it. Four vowels and 7 consonants. Being able to spell my last name ranked right up there with being able to tie my own shoes and going to the bathroom without assistance. Laugh all you want. A time in your life is coming, hopefully when you are a senior citizen, when you will have to go to the bathroom with assistance, again. Oh, yeah! Someone will also have to tie your shoes for you eventually as well.
Would you be surprised to learn that this name, Quocksister, is a relatively new name? It has only been in existence for approximately 130 to 140 years plus a decade or maybe two. The name Quocksister was given to my great grandfather by people that couldn't spell his last name. Go figure! Changing one's last name occurred in the 1800's and I'm know it still happens today. People that have arrived in Canada have changed their last names because, like my family's last name, may have been difficult to spell or pronounce and sometimes the name change was done to hide something in the past. Is this revisionist history in the making? That's a question I am going to leave for another blog post. I can tell you as an amateur genealogist it makes for finding one's family members and discovering one's family history a challenge.
My name is Kelly David Quocksister. My father's name is David John Quocksister. My grandfather's name was John Quocksister (no known or apparent middle name). My great grandfather's name was George Kwaksistala or, George Kwocksistala, or George Quocksistala or George Quocksister. There are several other variations of my great grandfather's last name before it was changed to Quocksister. If I was alive during the time of my great grandfather I would have asked what name he preferred. I already know the answer. I still would have asked.
Two years ago I learned that the name Quocksister sounds similar to the name of a South African pastry. I wasn't really sure how to take that when I learned of it. So here I am. A child of two races with a last name that almost got me seriously injured in elementary school thinking my last name is a desert? I can tell you that I know the value of a name. For better, or for worse, with God's grace I have made a name for myself with the name Quocksister. I choose to keep this name.
The name Kwaksistala is a powerful name. How do I know that? I've noticed that over the years people have attempted to take this name and use it as their own for personal gain. Get your own name! This one is in use by the true descendants of the original owner. Some members of the Quocksister family have chosen to change their last name back to Kwaksistala. I believe that is a good thing.
So you may be wondering why I bring this issue up. Knowing my great grandfather's name is important to me. It is well known that natives in western Canada are fighting for the return of ancestral lands. There are debates about the wisdom in this. I'm not sure if land claims are a way to solve problems. I do know that land that was and I believe still is my great grandfather's is being disputed over today. This land should be returned to my family.
George Quocksistala passed away December 23, 1921. I am his descendant and I can prove it, as can my cousins.
