The Ekers of Guernsey arrived on the Island in the late 1800`s from France.   Bartolo
Eccher was the first arriving with his wife and her family, the le Carpentiers. 
Bartolo was born in Austria in the Trentino area which is now an autonomous Italian
province.  There was mass migration from this area at this time due to the break up of
the Austro-Hungarian Empire plus there were several cholerea outbreaks at the same
time,  many families moved to the US mainly to the mining areas in Colorado, to date I
have not been able to find any connections to these families,  whilst others moved to
other parts of Europe.  Ecchers still live in this area.    The name Eccher means, in
German, corner or one who lives on the corner or side of the hill/mountain,  or from
old German as a friend of mine translated, with a small knowledge of English, " the
things that oak trees come from" (I believe he meant acorn).   
A lot of the research was done by others, and I would like to give them my thanks in
allowing me to " borrow" their work.  In particular I would like to mention Len Barbe
who did a lot of work researching the Barbes and Josserands in France,  Michele Day, my
fourth cousin in Australia, for the work on the Days and Torodes,  Brian Torode who
must be the expert in the Torode family,  Chippy Le Carpentier and Terry Dowington for
the Le Carpentiers and Dowingtons and Frances Bougourd for her continuing help with the
Barbes and Torodes also Ron Barbe in Canada and  many others to numerous to mention on
the GENES REUNITED web
site for allowing me access to their trees, for the purpose of double checking facts
and sources.
If there are any mistakes and or errors,  these are mine alone.   If you have any
information or additions, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
thanks and I hope you enjoy your visit.    Jeff