Not sure if that's helpful, but certainly fascinating. A scan of the Black's entry for Douglas would be great. Have to admit, I'm a bit of a book person, and this kind of book in particular. I'd be interested in the others you mention, on first names and gaelic place names (I have Watson's book on Celtic place names, which I bought when trying to find a place call Bailechastail (Balcastle) or Bailteapail (Chapelton as it was also known as) - it wasn't of use for this purpose and I found the place by a chance encounter with a leaflet which I found at the small Borenich burial ground - but its a fascinating book despite my gaelic not being up to much - one day I intend to read it all the way through :) In fact, just having a look at that leaflet (or a scan of it) suggests that the burial ground was once owned by the Douglas family of Strathtummel - although the monument books don't list any Douglas' as being mentioned on tomb stones - where do i get a list of who is burried there? Crikey - how did I not spot this before? As for the one name study guild - where do I find that (in fact, I'll google it in a minute). It sounds an interesting place to start what will probably become a wider study of the Douglas name (there is, in fact, a two volume history of the Douglas' which I have found very difficult to read - I only have the first volume - it's hard going). I also love maps :) I'll check out the other sites too - thank you for pointing them out. Regards, Andrew. On 2 Feb 2004, at 18:59, BRUINSWOOD@aol.com wrote: > andrew, >   > this may not help BUT i joimed the one name study guild where i > learned that starting to learn about the name is a very worthwhile. do > you have a library near that you can find a george black's scottish > surname book. if you can't i have a copy and will scan it for you. in > fact why don't i just do that unless you all ready have it. it gives > spelling variants, i also have one for first names and gaelic as i am > fascinated by names especially gaelic placenames...braes, etc. >   > the guild has a program that does a surname distribution map...they > send each new member one. there areother folks that do one at rootsmap > but i believe they do it for 1805-1880. number of events by shire in > england and other countries of the u.k. i love my surname map. >   > the one guild website has a free search by surname to see if there is > a member of the guild doing research for your surname. genforum and > gendex are also both good websites for surnames searches. scran > website can be searched by village or surname is excellent but what > you might find most helpfull are the cds on scottish history. i found > the information about why folks moved around in the 1700s or 1800s > taught me a great deal. scran scottish cultural resources archive > network or something similar was begun as assisting teachers and th > cds lump housing, immigration, schooling and i learned more in an hour > than in a week reading the books on scottish history...and i have read > close to a dozen. it is aimed at teachers helping kids. >   > mary in oregon >   > let me know if you already have blacks