i think it was rather common to name children after historical figures, certain people being popular during certian years. i have seen many girls named cleopatra, and i doubt if there was any ptolemy/egyptian connection. joe >> Powhatan was the father of Indian princess Pocahontas, of the Algonquian >>tribe, both of whom have a substantial degree of fame in colonial America. >> My wife and I have two sons, born in 1959 and 1961, neither of them named >>after anyone in particular. However, I recall thinking during John Glenn's >>1962 sub-orbital Mercury flight, that "If I had a son born today, I'd name him >>John Glenn Downing". That was the only thought I had to naming a descendant >>after someone. Ray >> >> >>==== DOWNING Mailing List ==== >>Thank you for contributing to the Downing mailing list. >> >I checked [only] Yahoo for Powhatan and got two matches in 17 sites, >including Powhatan County, Va; Powhatan, VA; a Star Trek fan club USS >Powhatan; Nansemond Tribal Association, Powhatan Confederacy. Sherry > > > >==== DOWNING Mailing List ==== > > >