In 5th grade, my teacher Mrs. McCleary was preparing for her retirement. She was the most favorite elementary teacher in the entire school and everyone wanted her as their 5th grade teacher. I felt incredibly lucky to be in her class on her final year of teaching. She decided to go out with a bang. She made sure we were able to do all the BIG, FUN, AMAZING projects she had developed in her career. That year, we made inventions, learned everything there was to know about the civil war, learned every tree and leaf in the state of Missouri and we researched our genealogy. I had never heard of genealogy until Mrs. McCleary challenged us to contact our grandparents and find out as much as we could about where we came from. We put together a book, a family tree and she painstakingly photographed (in the days before scanners), old photos so we could use the copies and return the originals. I still have some of the information that I gathered. I wish I would've taken the time to revisit that research when I was a little older. I wish I would've called my grandparents and asked them stories and questions about their family. At that time, all of my grandparents were alive....now, very few are still around to ask. One element of my heritage that is very interesting is my family crest. Now that I am married, I am technically a Mitchell. But when I was in Mrs. McCleary's class, I would've been a Trowbridge so I will share that one first. I found two versions of the crest, so I am sharing both but they are a little different. Trowbridge Name Meaning English: habitational name from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, named from Old English treow ‘tree’ + brycg ‘bridge’; the name probably referred to a felled trunk serving as a rough-and-ready bridge. The head of the crest is the helmet of a knight. This represents the bravery and courage in the family. Also, during the English civil war there was a major battle in Trowbridge. During this battle the citizens of Trowbridge took asylum in the castle that is also a part of the crest. The knights helmet is covered in an elaborate headdress to represent the wealth and prestige of the Trowbridges in England. Official blazon
The two garbs of barley in the chief represent agriculture, the mural crown symbolizes local government. The fleece represents the textile industry in the town.The crest shows an English lion (indicating that Trowbridge was a Royal Manor until Henry VIII bestowed it on his brother-in-law Edward Seymour) and a canting bridge. ***I LOVE that the motto is Respice Prospice, I definitely look to the past and to the future in my scrapbooking hobby! Mitchell Coat of Arms Mitchell Name Meaning from the Middle English, Old French personal name Michel, vernacular form of Michael.nickname for a big man, from Middle English michel, mechel, muchel ‘big’.Irish (County Connacht): surname adopted as equivalent of Mulvihill. The name Mitchell in Ireland was introduced into the country by settlers from England in the seventeenth century and has since become quite widespread. The native Gaelic O'Maoilmhichil Sept of Connaught Province also sometimes used Mitchell as the anglicized form of their name as well as the more usual Mulvihill or Mulville. Originating from the Hebrew Michael, Mitchell's introduction to Scotland was through the French Michel. The original pronunciation in Scotland was ‘Michel’. The name evolved as Mitchell in many parts of the country. It appears in 1354 on the Treaty of Berwick, freeing David II from imprisonment by the English. Also, a John Michell was rewarded in 1489 for holding Dumbarton Castle. Official Blazon
The Mitchell Ancient tartan is a predominantly blue and green tartan with black and red. It is registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans for the Mitchell name and motto.
1 Comment
Sherri Swaim
3/7/2016 08:43:13 pm
Heraldry is one of my more favorite topics we cover in our study of the middle ages. The kids love it and I get to share my husband's family crest. (My family, being Native American, doesn't have a European crest.)
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Mrs. Mitchell
This is my 'slice of life' blog. Archives
March 2020
My Art Teacher Blog:
This Little Class of Mine CategoriesOther Slice Blogs:
For Good I Like Big Books Life is a Slice The Cardinal Way KochUnaSlice YouWannaPieceofMeBlog Dr. Zornes' Slice of Life Sunshine Rays Two Writing Teachers Favorite Everyday Writer: Reesie Writes |