From: mbottorff@lshelby.com   
      
   Brian M. Scott  wrote:   
      
   > > Brian M. Scott  wrote:   
   >   
   > >>> Dude. That is one awesome name. Boom as a surname?   
   >   
   > >> It means 'tree'.   
   >   
   > > Is there a connection between that and the nautical term,   
   > > or is it pure coincidence?   
   >   
   > Yes, the nautical term is a borrowing of the Dutch word   
   >  'tree, beam, pole'.   
      
   It seemed likely,  but I've made mistakes before.   
      
   >   
   > >>> But add the rest? Dirk Van Dem Boom.   
   >   
   > >> And  is 'of/from the tree'.   
   >   
   > > Making it roughly equivalent to the french Dubois?   
   >   
   > Very roughly:  is 'forest'.  A more exact Dutch   
   > equivalent of  would be <(van) de Bos>, and a more   
   > exact French equivalent of  would be   
   >  (i.e.,  'of/from the tree').   
      
   It occured to me after I posted that something-Arbre would probably be   
   closer, but I actually knew a Dubois, so that's what jumped to mind.   
      
   Now that the difference between the two has been pointed out and brought   
   to my attention...   
      
   If not from the woods but from the tree... which tree and in what way is   
   someone "from/of" it?   
      
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