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Last names. We've all got
them. But ever wonder where they came from
or even what they mean?
A little downtown Palm
Springs store called Your Family Name holds many
of the answers to these questions.
The stationary knight
you'll notice out front holds a big book of
names. If your family's name is in that book, a
brief snapshot of history abounds when co-owners
Robert Piepho and Charles Dunn start typing away
on their database.
Piepho met with The Palm
Springs Sun to talk about the store.
Tell me a little bit
about Your Family Name.
We provide people with
information about their families going back to
the 1200s. The origin of the name. Ship records
coming over to the (U.S.) Symbols the family
identifies with, and the way families identify
themselves. Many know it as a coat of arms or a
family crest.
How are you able to give this kind of
information to people about their own families?
How does Your Family Name know this stuff?
We're part of the Historical Research Center
that started about 40 to 50 years ago in Dublin,
Ireland. And I have a history degree.
OK. So, why open a store like this in
downtown Palm Springs?
I saw a similar store on the East Coast
where there was lots of walk-in traffic. I think
a place like this is the best place to show
people what you do.
How does the process work?
People come in and have no idea (what the
store is all about). Once we go through the
process, they can not only discover people in
their family (from decades ago), but we give
them a snapshot (of their history). We give a
free consultation. Straight-forward genealogy
(and developing a family tree) takes more time
(and money).
People are going to want to know: What's the
damage for this service?
We have products as low as $15 for a key
chain and up to $1,295 for our largest banner
with the (family's) coat of arms. Our
best-selling product is a scroll with the coat
of arms. It's $49 unframed and $95 framed. Or
you can go beyond the basic products with silver
and gold stitching. We also have products for
married couples. They're $109.95 unframed or
$209.95 framed. |
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Robert Piepho, owner of Your Family
Name in Palm Springs, pulls up the
McMaster family's coat of arms on Aug.
1. The business makes various products
with the coat of arms of its customers.
(Photos by Richard Lui Palm Springs Sun) |
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| Avo
Gasparyan of North Hollywood (front)
and Sona Sulpanyan of North Hills
look up their names in front of Your
Family Name in Palm Springs. |
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IF YOU GO
Your Family Name is at 172 N. Palm
Canyon Drive. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Friday
and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday and Saturday. Information:
322-3103 |
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