Yes, where I live this Sunday is Mother’s Day. Luxembourg is the only country to celebrate Mother’s Day on the 2nd Sunday in June. What better day to honor my direct matrilineal line since it goes back 10 generations in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg?
As you can see in the Genealogy Sketch box my given name is nearly the same as my 6th great-grandmother’s, only reversed. Catherine (and other spellings) is a name I share with at least 27 ancestors. Fearless Females: 27 Female Ancestors Share My First Name!
Happy Mother’s Day to all Mother’s in Luxembourg!
Generation 1:
My 6th great-grandmother Anna Catharina RONAS (Ronnas, Rones) is my oldest known direct matrilineal ancestor. She was born around 1710 to unknown parents. She gave birth to ten children between 1741-1755, all in Septfontaines or Siebenbüren. This village name translates to Seven Fountains or Seven Wells. Since all modern Europeans are classified into seven mitochondrial haplogroups it seems fitting that my mitochondrial line goes back to a place with SEVEN in the name.
Generation 2:
My 5th great-grandmother Agnes HERTZ’s marriage record show’s her mother’s name: Catharina RONAS
Generation 3:
My 4th great-grandmother Catharina HAMES’ marriage record show’s her mother’s name: Agnes HERTZ
Generation 4:
My 3rd great-grandmother Maria TRAUSCH’s marriage record shows her mother’s name: Catharina HAMES
Generation 5:
My 2nd great-grandmother Maria MAJERUS’ marriage record shows her mother’s name: Maria TRAUSCH
Generation 6:
My great-grandmother Catherine FRANTZ’s marriage record shows her mother’s name: Maria MAJERUS
Generation 7:
My grandmother Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE’s marriage record shows her mother’s name: Catherine FRANTZ
Generation 8:
My mother’s marriage record to my father Fred Roosevelt DEMPSEY shows her mother’s name: Marie Marcelle FOURNELLE. I have a copy of the record but will not share as she is still living.
Generation 9:
My marriage record lists my mother’s name.
Generation 10:
Through my daughter, the matrilineal line continues.
Sources:
[1] Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Septfontaines > Baptêmes 1735-1797, confirmations 1774-1791, mariages 1738-1797, sépultures 1738-1788 > image 155 of 208. 1755 Marriage Record, 1st entry on left page. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32463-3700-90?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-4WR:1501152901,1501459884 : accessed 7 June 2015).
[2] Ibid., Septfontaines > Baptêmes 1735-1797, confirmations 1774-1791, mariages 1738-1797, sépultures 1738-1788 > image 34 of 208. 1755 baptismal records for twins Agnes and Maria Catharina, 3rd and 4th entries on left page. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32463-3785-56?cc=2037955&wc=STHD-4WR:1501152901,1501459884 : accessed 7 June 2015).
[3] Ibid., Mamer > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1779-1793 > image 65 of 168. 1785 Marriage Record. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32401-17714-18?cc=2037955&wc=STHZ-C6G:1500941501,1500913302 : accessed 6 June 2015).
[4] Luxembourg, Registres d’état civil, 1793-1923 (images), FamilySearch (original records at Luxembourg National Archives, Plateau du Saint-Esprit, Luxembourg), Mamer > Naissances 1834-1890 Mariages 1796-1837 > image 1283 of 1504. 1817 Marriage Record No. 3. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12585-51831-91?cc=1709358&wc=9RY7-FM9:130065401,130365601 : accessed 22 August 2011).
[5] Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 114 of 1497. 1849 Marriage Record No. 19. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120796-17?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 6 September 2014).
[6] Ibid., Mamer > Mariages 1838-1890 Décès 1796-1880 > image 310 of 1497. 1870 Marriage Record No. 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12143-120441-3?cc=1709358&wc=9RY3-VZ9:130065401,130130201 : accessed 6 September 2014).
[7] Ibid., Mamer > Naissances, mariages 1895-1923 > image 547 of 819. 1900 Marriage Record No. 18. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-32045-16170-78?cc=1709358&wc=M9M6-LQS:415858536 : accessed 6 March 2015).
[8] Commune d’Echternach Nr. 13/1935, Wildinger-Fournelle Family Book. This is an official document given to the bride and groom at the time of their civil marriage. It is used to record births, christenings, and deaths of children as well as death of one or the other spouse. Scanned copy of the original, in possession of their daughter.
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Opening Doors in Brick Walls 
those documents look fascinating, great research.
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Thank you Jake. I am lucky that civil and census records for Luxembourg are online at FamilySearch. They’ve added church records so I’m hoping to find the parents of Anna Catharina Ronas. The biggest problem when going this far back is the use of house names instead of surnames. But they often included “alias” on records which makes it easier.
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Great post, and Happy Mother’s Day to you and your family! Do you have any particular traditions for this day, Cathy?
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Thank you Elizabeth. The kids are grown up and we don’t have any traditions. Many families go out to eat on Mother’s Day. We spent the day helping out at a bike racing event. My husband and son directed traffic and I sold mettwursts and grillinger – Luxembourg’s hot dogs.
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Sounds like the same here! 🙂
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Ten generations is an impressive amount! I love the photo of the cute little Cathy ;-). I didn’t know that the Luxembourgish Mother’s Day is different from ours.
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Thank you Karen. We also have a different Father’s Day – 1st Sunday in October.
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What a beautiful post! I had no idea that Luxembourg had Mother’s Day in June! Happy Mother’s Day!
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Thank you! Yes the only country in the world to celebrate on the 2nd Sunday in June.
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Maybe that’s to make sure the weather is beautiful.
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