In the Middle Ages rulers were given a tag to identify them, such as Charles
the Bold or Charles the Simple (meaning modest, not simple minded). The same
was true of Charles Martel. Martel from the French for "hammer" got the tag
on his name for "hammering back" the "infidels."
Dane Bowen in Alexandria, Va., researching Bowen, Bacon, Carlton (Carleton),
Luker, Sanders (Saunders), Chaudoin (Chaudoins), Maverick, Richey (Ritchie,
Richie, Ritchey), Spence, Sumner, Way, and Wells families.
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