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/1176.1.1.4.1.1.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: You would be surprised at how much I already understand about the passing on of names. Many people who moved from one place to another often assumed the name of their Lord and Master or the name of the estate they came from. This happened in the United States after the abolition of slavery. I am not as ignorant as you seem to assume. In my message, I was just imagining the worst possible senario. If he is not a Dunbar, where does that leave us? On the other hand, I was told that I am not a descendant of John Dunbar of Hingham at all. I am a descendant of the Connecticut Dunbars. I realize that there was a lot of moving around. Sons moved where the land and opportunity presented itself. Ancestry.com carried me straight to John Dunbar. Do I start all over and seek out only the Dunbars born, married, or died in Connecticut and ignore the rest? There appears to be quite a bit of born here, married there, died somewhere else. How do I know other than by looking at the names of children, spouses, and dates? Someone seems to know who I am not related to. Therefore, should I assume that they know to whom I am related? I did take advice and I will try to join the Dunbar Clan, but it is difficult for me because my grandfather had only one son. His only son had only one son. Through divorce the only son (my cousin) is estranged to the Dunbar family even though I believe he goes by Dunbar. I have very little chance of proving who I am or am not. Frustrated! Mary Dunbar Erickson 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.