Both sides of the family, Franken and Groothuis, originate from the European country of Holland and immigrated to North America in 1953 and 1910 respectively. The Franken family who also lived in Dutch East Indies ( Indonesia ) developed a family crest possibly hundreds of years ago in Southern Holland.The crest was rediscovered by John's Uncle A.L. Franken in Dutch Archives a few years before his untimely death in Indonesia.