Hi Carolyn, Thanks for the info. My Grandfather was named for his Grandfather, Arad Pennington, but with Grandpa the spelling ended up being Arid. Most of that part of the family could not read or write so it got spelled in very creative ways. I have done a lot of research on this name and find that it is a Biblical name. There is a King Arad in the Bible. I have a theory that my Arad Pennington was named for Arad Perkins in Ashe Co.NC. I have several reasons to think this may be true. Arad Perkins, btw, married Polly Pennington, and is generally believed to be the son of Timothy Perkins. Also, btw, I have another theory that Arad Perkins may have been named after Arad Parks, however this is completely speculation. My Mom believed her Dad's name was derived from Aaron. Wells Pennington and Daniel Strunk migrated to Whitley Co.KY by 1820 and Wells moved on to Pulaski and Wayne Counties, KY. The brother of Arad Perkins, Jabez Perkins, also migrated to Whitley Co.KY, and if my memory is correct, he lived out his life there. This is all in the same time frame. You're right, the name has been helpful but I still can't prove that Wells Pennington was Arad's father, although I think I'm the only one who has any doubts. I just wonder why Arad named his oldest son, Samuel, and lived next door to a Samuel Pennington on the 1860 Census of Russell Co.KY. Thanks again for the interesting discussion. I enjoyed it very much. BarbT