Thank you Jim for the uplifting information on my likelihood of an extra three (3) years! I have a Norman surname likely from a foot soldier in William the Conqueror's 1066 A.D. invasion of England.

King Harold Godwinson had to first fend off the Norwegians (King Harald Hardrada and his cousin Tostig Godwinson who had joined the Norwegians) at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066 then hustle to the south to eventually meet William's Norman forces on October 14, 1066 at the Battle of Hastings 260 miles/420 kilometers, a big logistical challenge for England's foot soldiers. It was a lot to ask of tired English forces. On the other hand, we must give credit to William for the logistics involved with bringing horses, men and supplies across the water from Normandy.

The Battle of Hastings changed history with the Normans centralizing power as opposed to the previously distributed power of England's Anglo-Saxon landowners. William rewarded his soldiers with properties taken away from the Anglo-Saxons. Ultimately this centralization led to a rebellion of sorts culminating in the Magna Carta signed in 1215. As we all know, this was the beginning of a property rights methodology followed for better or worse wherever the English colonized. The Spanish/Portuguese colonies were established with property systems more closely aligned with feudal aspects (a few folks own the property and the rest of the folks live/work on the property). Asian areas were not colonized or only partially colonized by European powers and today some have a hybrid property rights system with periodic warlord induced resets. It can be interesting how long ago cultural aspects still have overtones here in 2026.

Uwharrie