Not a silly question, but each family within those names decided its own pattern of naming, even to have no pattern at all. As you go further into research, you will find as many failures to observe the usual pattern as compliances. Donald Massey ----- Original Message ----- > Sorry for asking a silly question, but anyone who is researching POLSON/SUTHERLAND families or others, did they stick to a naming pattern, I am trying to find ANGUS POLSON born abt. 1774 parents, I did a search through LDS and came up with a couple of possibilities, I don't think he was an only child.