Hello All,
I don't know who might see this since no one seems to be posting on here any longer, but just in case; My great-grandparents were Camille Chauvin and Emma Lyall. My Grandmother, their daughter, was Emma Clothilda Chauvin. She married Blackwell Lunsford of North Carolina where they lived and had nine children including my mother, Emma Lyall Lunsford. Also included was my uncle, James Camille Lunsford.
I remember meeting Gerald Guidroz who was visiting my mother, his cousin (who has always gone by her middle name, Lyall). My middle name is also Lyall.
I remember that when my mother visited New Orleans about 20 years ago, she told me about having seen the Chauvin Plantation and the Lyall Plantation. I have no idea if those are still standing, especially since Katrina.
My parents' first child, my sister was named Camille. I have a daughter and a son both of whom I gave the middle name Camille and my middle daughter is Emma. Lots of cousins with the names Emma and Camille and even one other Lyall.
I recall hearing names of locations, like Lafourche Parish, Raceland and Mathews.
Growing up I heard a great deal about my French heritage from my grandmother, my mother and her siblings and many of my (many) cousins. But I never heard mention of there being any Scottish lineage. It wasn't until I was grown that I realized, myself that Lyall is Scottish.
It all grows in significance as I get older. Funny, all these people and places I've known or heard about since as long as I can remember, seeing them on the internet.