Now that is some of the best advice I have seen on rootsweb. Thank you from the grandson of a Carson from Ireland. Frank Easton -----Original Message----- From: angus-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:angus-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Pat Carson Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 12:52 PM To: aberdeen@rootsweb.com; angus@rootsweb.com; tay-valley-bridges@yahoogroups.com Subject: [ANGUS] The origins of surnames I was browsing for surname information and on a discussion board, along with all the usual (mainly erroneous) explanations and misconceptions, came across this response: I might add one of the biggest mistakes a person can make when starting their family history is to get overly involved in their name. Your surname is a very tiny part of your ancestry. The number of people you descend from pyramids as you go back. Get back to your 6xGreat Grandparents, barring any duplicates, you are directly descended from 510 individuals. Of those 510 individuals only 8 of them will probably have your surname. Now, it is possible for one of your other ancestors to have married someone with the same surname whether in the family or not, but without any duplicates 502 will not have your surname. Get back to your 7xgreat grandparents you come out of 1012 individuals (that is 10 generations including yourself). Again barring any duplicates only 9 will have your surname leaving out 1003 people. Kiddo you have a lot of kin. Sort of puts it in perspective! Pat Carson Researching ADAMSON, STIRLING, KINNEAR in Forfar & Dundee KEY, FORD in Coastal Angus & Dundee NEAVE in Haddington & Forfar MILLER in Dundee CONWAY in Ireland, Ayrshire & Dundee FISHER in Ayrshire & Dundee NICOLSON in Speyside, Aberdeen & Dundee REILLY in Ireland & Dundee ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ANGUS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message