This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Forfarian Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.ans.general/5996.3.2.2.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am 100% Scots and I have, so far, found 208 direct ancestors, including all of my great-great-great-grandparents. I have not, so far, far found a single direct ancestor who was born furth of Scotland. My father's family are all from the east of Scotland and my mother's from the west and centre. In my tree I have 2234 families whose parents were married in Scotland between 1750 and 1900. It would take me far too long to check each of those families individually, but I reckon that something like half of them, in both east and west, followed the naming tradition. So I won't have it that the tradition is 'nonsense' ;) However I do agree wholeheartedly that the naming tradition is not an infallible predictor of a parent's name in the absence of any other information. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.