In a message dated 4/1/1999 4:26:19 AM Central Standard Time, OCONNOR-D- [email protected] writes: << Last week I found my grandfathers marriage cert. in London, KY. All my uncles and aunts {direct children from my grandfather} are named O'Connor. His marriage cert. clearly is signed Ed. F. Conners. Can anyone suggest what's going here. >> In Ireland and in North America, during the 1800's, most Irish were "encouraged" or forced to anglicize their names. Most Irish officials dropped the "O' and "Mc" from names when they officially recorded them. Many Irish dropped the prefix during this period and never reverted back. I also have a descendant who was shown as Connor In Ireland and later in the 1840's in Canada as Connor, Connors, Conner. It was only later when he emigrated to the USA in 1881, that he reverted back to O'Connor. Hope this helps. Janice