Hi Listers, Many thanks to all of you who tackled my 'alias' query and came up with some real food for thought. At this point I'm not sure I am much the wiser but I am chewing it all over and will keep it in mind and see where it leads. I like the notion of an alias being linked somehow to legitimacy and particularly inheritance as the Reed family married into wealth and land along the way. . As I mentioned I think, no Blackmores have popped up as yet in my tree but fingers crossed. Especial thanks for the links to the two articles which are fascinating. I will post re progress in due course [trusting that there is some :) ] Regards, Carolyne Sydney Oz