Linda has been researching her own family for over 50 years starting as a teenager. She is a graduate of the National Institute of Genealogical Studies the St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, primarily in English & Canadian studies. She also has done extensive research as a One Name Study of her maiden name. Her many commissions have taken her research in many jurisdictions and countries, including the USA, Germany, Australia, etc. She enjoys traveling and has visited many of the sites of her research.
“As a wife, mother of three, grandmother of eight and great grandmother of five, soon to be six (2024), I delight in my family! My husband and I have been happily married for over 38 years. We have twin sons, both married, and a special needs daughter who is single, all living nearby. My husband and I have three dogs, a sweet-natured American Husky who is 18 years old and two mini-dachshunds. Our household can be quite lively at times!
My husband and I enjoy travelling and while our most favourite place to vacation is Maui, HI with Sedona, AZ a close second, we have visited many other cities in the US, travelled to England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, in search of our many ancestors, and have been on three cruises, one which took us to the Baltic capitals including St. Petersburg during the summer solstice which was magical.
“I have been engaged in researching my maiden name ‘VODDEN’ since the early 1990’s and am a member of The Guild of One-Name Studies (https://one-name.org/). Since Vodden is such an unusual name, I thought that there wouldn’t be many entries and this would be an easy task. Not so!!
“The name originated in Devon, England and due to the dialect of the Devonshire people back in the late 1600’s there were many variations of the name, Vawden, Vowden, Bawden, to name a few. So my study had to include them too.
“More recently through social media and DNA matches, I have come to know some of the younger generation and compiled information that showed how they fit into our now complex family tree. I have cousins now all over the world!!”
Vodden Surname Study 