James, Our name cannot possibly be Huguenot, since the Huguenots hadn't been invented in the late 15th century when our name appeared. Oddly enough, I was told when I was a child (but my informant had no particular knowledge) that the name was French in origin, but this seems most unlikely, since we have a perfectly good place name in the Borders to derive it from (even if we can't all agree on its precise significance!). Oddly again, Sue's maiden surname (Berringer) IS thought to be Huguenot as far its English appearances go (in the French form Berenger it is very old indeed and the Germanic Berengar older still). I wonder if your correspondent has this listed - if so I'd be most grateful if you could put her in touch with me. I've written to her myself, but just in case my message doesn't get through perhaps you could mention it. Roger