RE: MCAVOY, MCAVOY, MCBOY, M'BOY, MACABOY, etc: Thank you for the informative explanation of the pronunciation. I do know that DIEGO did indeed retain the name DIEGO in contrast to the Angicized version of JAMES, not just Spanish Records, but War of 1812, etc. But later down the road, decendents were named JAMES after him. There is a son of DIEGO, JR. who was named JAMES LaTURETTE MCVOY,III. Still wondering who JAMES LaTURETTE was? Does anyone recognize this name? DIEGO,Sr. was from an IRISH father--John MCAVOY. I was not sure if that was our "real" name or not, as I have seen it so many ways as you mention. I had also applied for a Pensacola 300 Certificate last year from my WILLIAM/GUILLERMO MCVOY who was brother of DIEGO is my ancestor. My ancestor did at some point go by WILLIAM-- as is on his grave. He is buried at OLD CHURCH ST.CEMETERY in MOBILE and is listed as MCVOY on the stone per the book and website info. On the PENSACOLA certificate it is MCAVOY and on an old census it is supposedly MAKBOY per the Regina Mandrell Book 1988 on the Moreno family. (1784 Census Pensacola?) Now I thought I remembered reading in that book about my ISABEL(listed there as MELOS) marrying a wealthy Spaniard named MARTIN de MADRID after JOHN MCAVOY'S death. I have seen absolutely nothing anywhere on that marriage other than the Mandrell book. I called St.Michael's in PENSACOLA and the lady said the records prior to 1861 burned. That was really a tragedy. Does anyone know more about such a marriage to a MARTIN de MADRID? There are land rec's in FL for a MARTIN MADRID on-line. What happened to DIEGO and WILIAM's elder brother JOAQUN and elder sister ANA who were both listed in the MANDRELL book as being born in the early 1770's? The way the MOBILE Baptism Certificates are written seems to imply both JOHN MCAVOY and ISABEL MILON were "still" living in 1809 when DIEGO MCVOY,JR was Baptised, yet the later Baptism of son, MARTIN in 1815 refers to both JOHN and ISABEL in the "were" past tense. Apparently they may have died in that time period?? Does anyone know where they may have been buried? Another interesting thing that points to the accuracy of the Baptismal Certificates in naming ISABEL'S maiden name of MILON is the name "MALAN" MCVOY which is found in a cemetery in MAINE in the later 1800's. Wonder if that child was named in honor of someone named MALAN. He was the son of "a" PETER MCVOY (I think) and there was a PETER MCVOY living at the Wm.MCVOY,JR household in PENSACOLA in 1870. He would have been born ca. 1856 per census age. May have been a brother to my great grandpa, MARTIN MCVOY.(b.1841) Also, Diego,Jr had a son named MELANCTHON which is also similar. It does directly state on both Baptismal Certificates that the DIEGO MCAVOY was a "NATIVE OF PENSACOLA" and we already know his father JOHN was a native of Northern IRE. There is an on-line record of "an" ISABEL MILON, b. (SPRING HILL, MOBILE AL)ca.1767 on the LDS site. She was too young to be "the" ISABEL MILON on the 1784 census unless the age on the LDS records are in error or there was another ISABEL MILON in SPRING HILL. Does anyone know anything about the MILON (any close spelling) surname in MOBILE or PENSACOLA in the late 1700's? You never know if these names are clues, coincidence or honorary, but it is good to keep an open mind. Anyway, the main point is that I know to definitely check all spellings so I don't miss anyone important. I guess that pretty much holds true for all surnames. I strongly feel it "probably" was originally MCAVOY from family lore. Thanks again for your insight and taking the time to share your thoughts. Warm regards, Bonnie McVoy Treon Kannapolis, NC,USA ---------------------- RE QUOTE: Please be aware that in Spanish ruled areas then and now a person's first name was and is changed to the Spanish equivalent. Diego is James. Your Diego/James could still have been of Irish parentage if not born in Ireland himself. You will find that in Mississippi during the Spanish control even some of the surnames were translated where possible. I have noticed some of the McAvoy/McVoy researchers spelling the name McAboy or McBoy and again that is because the V and B in Spanish are sounded very much a like and to an English speaking person listening to a Spanish speaking person the difference probably would not be discerned. For instance the female name Elvira sounds like Elvida because of the R being followed by a vowel. In the pursuit of our genealogy we have to study so much more than we ever expected when beginning. And no one warned us before we caught the 'Bug'. In one of our family languages vowels are in short supply and accent marks too plentiful to remember the sounds when they appear, for instance, Trg. Please do not think that I am being critical. I have just been watching this McAvoy discussion for a couple of years and have not seen anyone address the language aspect and thought it would be helpful to bring it up for your consideration. Lots of good luck on your family search.