This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Johnday510 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.dunbar/1176.1.1.4.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Sally, I obviously appear to be uneducated and ignorant (and I am sure I am in some respects as we all are). However, surnames came about with the Domesday Book. Everyone had to be listed and their property accounted for. The people who willingly signed the Domesday Book were very proud to do so. They did not realize it was going to be used to tax them. I also understand the concept of place names and occupational names as I taught Medieval World History for several years. I had all of my students make family crests using both mom and dad's surnames (as the mothers were often left out throughout history). I also explained to my students that this aquisition of names happened here in the United States among African Americans. They often assumed the names of their owners, the name of the plantation, the county, or they were themselves illegitimate children of white men. I do understand more than you realize. However, with DNA being used to trace heredity for some ten to twelve years now, I had expected more progress--more certainty in tracing ancestors. In reading some posted messages on a different website, I realized that we have not made much progress at all--only baby steps. Now, if ancestry.com led me directly to John, eldest son of Robert, why did they not lead me to the Connecticut Dunbars. Sons grow up, move to where the land and the opportunity avails itself. They are born here, married there, and die somewhere else. How do you decide who is a Connecticut Dunbar and who is a Hingham Dunbar. Have your "chief" take a look and see where I have gone astray. Mary Dunbar Erickson 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.