Searching for a reason why an ancestor received a strange given name, Lowry (full name Lowry Green). Have come upon a number of Rhode Island Green's who have clearly been named with the surnames of other families. For instance, Spencer Green, Spicer Green, Matteson Green, Waterman Green, Whipple Green (all are surnames from Kent County in early 1800's). I'm assuming that these names were given in tribute to ancestral surnames in the female line. Might this have been a common practice in a specific religious sect or ethnic group? Occurrences in other families in Rhode Island at about the same time are common also: e.g., Waterman Spencer, Spencer Arnold, Whipple Arnold, Spicer Fish, Whipple Rice, Waterman Stone, Spencer Reynolds, etc. There are also a couple of Green Lowry's, but they are in southern states. Would appreciate any insight you might have on this. I'm posting this question on other mailing lists also. Thanks, Bob Green rcgreen@myfamily.org