This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/EgC.2ACE/10117.1.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: I have plenty of ancestors with middle names in the 19th century. They took their middle name from the surname of their ancestor; eg: my GG grandmother Janet Spittal WOTHERSPOON was named after her paternal grandmother Janet SPITTAL. Her sister Isabella Cullen WOTHERSPOON was named after her maternal grandmother Isabella CULLEN. I hope this helps