Interesting that you mention French Hugenots refugees-- some of my ancestors on my father's side of the family were just that. Their name was des Marets. Here is my Big Brag-- I can directly trace back, through my great-great-great-grandmother Margaret Demarest (the name has undergone a variety of misspellings), to the 11th century to an ancestor called Jean, Lord of Bousis. After him were 10 more Lords des Marets. The family originally sprung from the house of the barons of Bousis, peers at Chambray (which is in the far north of France). The name des Marets originated in the 6th century. They left France in the 16th century; some went to Holland and some to England.

Another posh-sounding-French-name in my family is on my mother's side. My great grandmother's maiden name was Custance, which was originally de Coustance and is traced back to 1066, but not directly, to a woman who was a lady-in-waiting of the court of William the Conqueror.

Here's the point where everybody can go "Ooooooh!" and "Aaaahhhh!" and pretend to be really impressed.

M-B