Re: To find out where last name originated

As far as I know my last name originatedfrom Belguim, the waloon(sp?) section several hundred years ago whenmy (several greats) grandfather , a silversmith, fled the religous climate of the times and moved to Sweden. My branch of the family stayed as farmers until after the2nd world war war, hiding Danish and Norweigan refugees.
I am the first Pierre born in Ireland, I know another great grandfather went to mine gold inCanada in the 1800's but am not sure if he left any family there or what has happned to the rest of the extended family. I would assume that some are still in Belgium, a lot in Sweden and the rest...?
Ivar Pierre was a war correspondant with a Stockholm newspaper and actually helped smuggle refugees from Denmark, losing his arm to a boobytrap. His part in saving so many lives was kept secret until after his death several years ago.I dont know if we are in any way the same Pierre's but there's a wee bit of info for you.