his ancestry. The priest finally tells him in his heavy accent, “Do you know where your last name comes from?” He goes on to explain that the family name comes from invading Vikings that pillaged and raped some of the local communities which is why… the meaning of my last name is ‘rapist.’

My grandpa goes on to explain that while visiting Switzerland, he met with a Swiss priest regarding this same subject. The priest reportedly scoffed and retorted that the family name comes from local reapers—hence the origin of its meaning. That’s all my grandpa has ever said on the origin of the family name. Etymology is fun, but I’m 99% certain that either my gramps was pulling my leg or the German priest was joshing with him. Hopefully.