I am staggered that Barb has a database of 22,000 names of REAVIS. It is really important to have correct backup procedures for such a mammoth amount of work and I applaud her dedication to the task. I would be interested to know the breakdown of numbers for the variants i.e what proportion is named REAVIS, REVIS or RIVIS. To update you on my search for the birth of Edward-1 here in England. I am having real problems and I fear it may be a long wait. I think the consensus is that he was born Circa. 1680. He was known to have been interred in Newgate jail in London and on some documents gave his place of origin as Paddington, London. This is not necessarily his birthplace, I am sure that many from the country areas were drawn to the big city and there are relatively few born in London in the seventeenth century. It is important for my research to decide his actual name, as when he was in America he was known as REAVIS but I understand there are indications on other documents his original name was REVIS. This may decide my strategy to decide on which variant to research. There are pockets of different parts of England for each of the variants. REAVIS was prevalent in the South West and virtually no other part. REVIS was more common in the North as is RIVIS. I am researching RIVIS in Yorkshire which I do not beleive is connected to the REAVIS lines. They have distinctly separate origins. RIVIS and REVIS are virtually always interchanged with each other and have a common root which I beleive is seperate to REAVIS. There are no REAVIS names in the north apart from the odd misspelling and it certainly does not persist. Likewise in the South West there are very small numbers of RIVIS/REVIS in comparison to REAVIS. I may have to research both regions for success. In the North of England where RIVIS/REVIS is common we beleive the origin to be the monastery of Rievaulx Abbey which is situated on the river Rye. The small village which grew up alongside the abbey was know by the locals as RIVIS and on ancient maps the abbey is marked as RIVIS abbey. It may be the actual earlier origin is from the continent of Europe as the abbey is known to have traded wool right across the low countries and as far as Italy. The monks themselves originated from France. The above is very theoretical and in many ways an opinion expressed. I beleive there is much to be gained from statistical distribution of the names. At this time there was little movement of people around the country but Edward-1 could have been the exception. Andrew Sefton Yorkshire England Researching RIVIS in Yorkshire web site: http://www.andysefton.freeserve.co.uk