Tertius usually means "the third" In a message dated 1/21/2009 3:12:16 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, genmassachusetts-request@rootsweb.com writes: reply-type=original Trying to help Robby pin down the ancestors of Cheney Capen. Looks like one of these might be the right one, but this has me stummped. I have never seen a surname Tertius before. The online dictionary doesn't even give a definition and I can't find it before 1750 other than in Dorcester. Can anyone tell me more about this? I think that Samuel is more likely Samuel Capen the third, and his surname is not Tertius. I only find a few entries for Tertius before 1750 and they all are Samuel Capen Tertius and John Capen Tertius in Dorcester between 1725-1750. Eventually there are given names of Tertius, but it is rare to see it as a surname. The other factor is that it was very rare for persons of this era to have a middle name. Any help appreciated! **************Inauguration '09: Get complete coverage from the nation's capital. (http://news.aol.com/main/politics/inauguration?ncid=emlcntusnews00000003)