If you are a fan of ice hockey, you might have wondered if Devon Toews and Jonathan Toews are related. After all, they share the same surname and both play in the National Hockey League (NHL). However, the answer is not as simple as it might seem. In this article, we will explore the origins of the Toews surname, the family backgrounds of Devon and Jonathan, and whether they have any connection at all.
Contents
The Origin of the Toews Surname
The Toews surname is a variant of the German name Thews, which means “servant” or “bondman” It is also related to the Dutch name Teunis, which is derived from Anthony, meaning “priceless one” The Toews name is common among Mennonites, a Christian group that originated in the Netherlands and Germany in the 16th century Many Mennonites migrated to Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries, where they adopted the Russian spelling of their name as Тевс (Tevs) Some of them later moved to Canada and the United States, where they anglicized their name as Toews
The Family Background of Devon Toews
Devon Toews was born on February 21, 1994, in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada He is the son of Bryan Toews, an electrician at the University of Manitoba, and Andrée Gilbert, a native of Sainte-Marie, Quebec He has a younger brother named David, who also plays ice hockey Devon’s paternal grandfather was Henry Toews, who was born in Russia and immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1926. Henry was a Mennonite who spoke Low German and Russian. Devon’s paternal grandmother was Helen Friesen, who was also born in Russia and immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1929. Helen was also a Mennonite who spoke Low German and Russian.
The Family Background of Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews was born on April 29, 1988, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is the son of Bryan Toews, a financial analyst at Manitoba Hydro, and Andrée Gilbert-Toews, a former vice-president of finance at Assiniboine Credit Union. He has a younger brother named David, who also plays ice hockey. Jonathan’s paternal grandfather was David Toews, who was born in Russia and immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1926. David was a Mennonite who spoke Low German and Russian. Jonathan’s paternal grandmother was Anna Wiebe, who was also born in Russia and immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1929. Anna was also a Mennonite who spoke Low German and Russian.
The Connection Between Devon and Jonathan
As you can see from their family backgrounds, Devon and Jonathan are both descendants of Mennonites who came from Russia to Canada in the 1920s. They also share the same paternal grandfather’s name (David) and paternal grandmother’s maiden name (Wiebe). However, this does not mean that they are closely related. According to genealogical records, Devon and Jonathan are fourth cousins once removed. This means that they share a common ancestor who was their great-great-great-grandfather. Their relationship is illustrated in the following diagram:
!Diagram showing the relationship between Devon and Jonathan)
Conclusion
Devon Toews and Jonathan Toews are both professional ice hockey players who play in the NHL. They share the same surname and have similar family backgrounds as Mennonites who came from Russia to Canada. However, they are not brothers or even close cousins. They are fourth cousins once removed, which means that they have a very distant connection through their great-great-great-grandfather. Therefore, while they might have some common traits and interests as hockey players and Mennonites, they are not related in any significant way.
I hope you enjoyed this article on “Is Devon Toews related to Jonathan Toews?” If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.
I’ll try to create that diagram for you.
