Happy Easter everyone!
Here's a non Easter question for you....................
What might the connection be
between here
and here?
The answer is this man!
That's right, Uncle Walt's ancestry can be traced all the way back to Hugues Suhard and his son Robert who left Isigny sur Mer to fight side by side with William the Conqueror during the invasion of England in 1066.
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| Isigny Sainte Mer Cooperative |
I always thought Isigny sur Mer was only famous for the wonderful butter, cream and cheese, produced by the Isigny Sainte Mere cooperative, using milk from Normandy's native breed of cows like these.
Our farmer neighbour, Mark, supplies the co-op and we often encounter the huge tankers, in our narrow lanes, on their way to collect the creamy stuff.
In the centre of Isigny opposite the Town Hall the Walt Disney Garden has been created.
Here you'll also find a small plaque officially recognising what generations of children from Isigny have grown up knowing - Walt Elias Disney's ancestors were Normans!
Click here to visit the Disneyland Paris website confirming the story.
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"To the youngsters of today, I say believe in the future,
the world is getting better;
there is still plenty of opportunity.
Walt E. Disney
05.12.1901 - 15.12.1966
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According to Madeleine Hubert, historian of Isigny, a charter of the King of England and Duke of Normandy Henry II, written in the 12th century, reports that Hugues Suhard, "guardian and master of the port of Isigny", took the name of Hugues d'Isigny.
(His) descendants settled in England, many decided not to return to Normandy. Over the years, their name became more evocative. In 1150, the stronghold of Norton, in the center of England, belonged to a certain William of Ysini. There is also a Norton Is'ny in a charter of 1331. It was this Norton who later became Norton Disney. Several centuries later, around 1830, a distant descendant of Norton, Elias Disney, left his native Ireland for the New World.
Walt Elias Disney's ancestry can be traced back to the Irish branch of the family.
Wow - that is so interesting - I just love learning such things. Thank you for sharing. Lovely photos - the gardens are especially wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYou share the best information. Thank you Maggie for your 36th Mosaic Monday. Appreciated.
ReplyDeleteJoy
What an incredible story. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteMB
Maggie, thanks for the interesting post. Hope you had a delightful Easter weekend. Ours was quiet and uneventful. Rather nice!
ReplyDeleteYor Blog Post is simply stunning, darling Maggie, every Monday you amaze me, darling friend !
ReplyDeleteHope you had a beautiful Easter
I'm sending blessings on your new week,
with much love
XOXO Daniela at - My little old world - (Dany)
That is an impressive building & garden. Your Easter / Spring mosaics are a feast for the eye.
ReplyDeleteWow, I had no idea! What an interesting post, Maggie! And lovely photos. Thank you for hosting MM. Hope you are having a nice spring day.
ReplyDeleteGenealogy is a fun way to learn history...and I loved this. Gives Euro-Disney a slightly more personal connection too, maybe. But right now, I really wish I had some of the cheese made partly from your neighbor's cows. .... (I'm visiting before breakfast, but I'd love it any time.)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I both read this post this morning...so interesting. We live very close to Disney World (we don't go often) so it's fun to read about this history of Walt Disney. Beautiful photos too. Happy MM! Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteI learned something new this morning! I love Disney and really enjoyed this post. Happy Monday and thanks so much for hosting.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting, Maggie! And here in distant Australia, we buy wonderful Isigny unsalted butter, which I am glad to say travels well...
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting.
This is such an interesting post, Maggie. Who knew? So many famous people were descended from the Normans. They've been a force to contend with in the world for a long time.
ReplyDeleteMaggie, This post was very interesting and educational. Thanks for hosting and sharing. Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. We don't always put forth the effort to go back and back and back!
ReplyDeleteThis is SO cool -- I never knew this! And so you have your own little Disney World right there! I think yours is much, much prettier! (I'm not all that fond of the Disney parks but give me a lovely spot like this and I'm in seventh heaven!)
ReplyDeleteGosh, I had no idea Maggie - thanks for sharing all this amazing history.
ReplyDeleteI would visit Isigny-sur-Mer before Disney any day - cheese-aholic me - and theme parks were OK when the kids were small, but not in this day and age!
Off to cut a piece of cheese to go with my aperitif white wine right now!
I worked in the garden so have earned it, right!!!!!!
Hugs - Mary
Fascinating history Maggie! My family went to Disneyland when it opened in 1955 (I was 4 years old) and it's been a great destination for my extended family ever since. I hope to be back to Mosaic Monday next week when I'm home again...
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting! I see I selected the wrong image. Click through to see the mosaic.
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie, I am finally making my way to visit everyone...very long week, every excuse imaginable and none of them very good, other than a slow laptop and now I am on our desktop. Walt Disney, what a creator, a genius, one who has brought so much joy to millions around the world with his theme parks. I got to see Walt Disney in person back in Los Angeles at Disneyland. He was in a light coloured suit, with a hat on and when he walked by my parents, sister, aunt and cousins, he took his hat off and nodded in our direction with his great smile. That was such a neat remembrance. Have a wonderful weekend~
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