Joan, you wrote: "Dorothy, by saying that--do you mean that you think Leota is just another given name and not indicating a prior surname? If so do you think it is native to this part of the country for some reason? Were your Havens/Clymers from the western PA and WV area? Also, what time period did the name first appear? Maybe that is the governing factor." Joan Joan, I have no idea if Leota has special meaning. Lena Leota Havens was born ca 1874 and died in 1947 in Elwood, IN. (Several in that family were known by their midle names.) I am totally stuck on the father of Elijah Havens who was born 1806 in Fleming Co., KY. When the Clymers came to this country (early 1700's) they lived in Maryland. They stayed there for some time then on to Ohio and in middle 1860's to Elwood, IN. The Havens family to which Leota (and my grandfather) belongs had some strange names. My grandfather's middle name was "Frame" I have looked for a relative, neighbor, anything with Frame as a surname, but can find none. I did find a doctor of that name, but I think he died before my grandfather was born. (At least there was some reason I decided he wasn't the person for whom my grandfather was named.) Maybe it is because I heard my mother refer to Aunt Ottie that it never seemed significant to me. BUT, your instincts are clearly better than mine, and I shall keep a eye out for Leota as either a first or last name. Dorothy