Hi Tomi Because Wales had a patronymic naming system before surnames a number of genealogical researchers have looked at the distribution of surnames (arising from first names) througout Wales. The only reference I have that answers your question is that of Rowland , John (1999) 'The homes of Surnames in Wales' in Rowlands J. and Rowlands S. (Eds) Second stages in Researching Welsh Ancestry, FFHS pubs. He refers to 'Names from the Old Testament' on pages 170-71. East Carmarthenshire and South Montgomeryshire have the highest incidence of these names but they are used throughout Wales and more commonly in the South than the North. According to Rowlands this is linked to the growth of non-conformity in Wales where (ironically in your case) old testament names where used in place of names of Kings and Queens. Since your name has both I suggest that the name Zachariah is probably derived from the lineage e.g named after grandfather/father if it is after 1800. However you do not give the birth date of Henry Zachariah Lewis. Also following on from Pam's suggestion there is another entry in FreeBMD for Marriages Dec 1888 LEWIS Zachariah Henry Neath 11a 1065 Is there a link with this area? Hope this helps Glen Jenkins --- Tomi Larson <tomil23@hotmail.com> wrote: > Pat, > Thanks for the effort. Zacariah was the middle name > though, so first name > was Henry. I've heard there were certain areas in > Wales where biblical names > were prevelant. Any ideas on that? > > Tomi > > > >From: Pat Powell <pat@pcubed.demon.co.uk> > >Reply-To: CARMARTHENSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com > >To: CARMARTHENSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com > >Subject: [Cmn-L] Re Zachariah Lewis > >Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 23:45:31 +0000 > > > >Hello Tomi > > > >Hoe about this entry in FreeBMD? > > > >Births Mar 1841 > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >Lewis Zachariah Abergavenny 26 16 > > > >Cheers > > > >Pat > > > > > > > >In message > <BAY101-F17E36239520B7FA69E50C1BD440@phx.gbl>, Tomi > Larson > ><tomil23@hotmail.com> writes > > >The full name is Henry Zacariah Lewis b. > 1840-1842. > > > > > > > >-- > >Pat Powell > > > > > >==== CARMARTHENSHIRE Mailing List ==== > >Wales Genealogy CD's for Wales research > >http://www.Wales-Genealogy.co.uk > > > > > > ==== CARMARTHENSHIRE Mailing List ==== > GenWeb & Genconnect pages for your genealogical web > links and research questions & Quiries. > http://www.carmarthenshirefhs.co.uk > > ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Exclusive Xmas Game, help Santa with his celebrity party - http://santas-christmas-party.yahoo.net/