This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: N_Percival Surnames: Dunbar, Beatty, Gilpin, Gilloch Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.dunbar/1176.1.1.4.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi again Mary, Your comment Surnames came about with the doomsday book. Not so. The doom's day book was a collection of recorders that William I sent out (1086) to find out about who had what so he could tax them.(In England not Scotland) It recorded the land owners Gentry/ Nobility and wealthy (merchants) not the common people. and that was in ENGLAND not Scotland... there were separate entities, until 1606 when the Scottish King James Tutor inherited from his cousin Elizabeth I, being she never married or had children... You should read: Rise of the kingdom of Alba then just keep going http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Scotland Some Scandinavian countries have only been using surnames under 500 years ago. Each country established surnames at different historical times.. If you look at the Chinese they were using surname identity way before any European country. Try googling for things you want to read about. Proud to have a Scottish connection from Dunbar, Gilloch, Beatty (Not the Border Reiver Beatties, not connected genetically) and others... (My Gilpins so far are from Ireland...) 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.