This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: theodoms05 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.stewart/10044.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am hoping someone would be able to find the answer to this... Robert Stewart was my 20th great grandfather, but it is his wife Elizabeth Mure (1320-13640) that I am hoping to get an answer.. **** Robert was my 18th great grandfather. :) Elizabeth died before Robert became King of Scotland... What would her title have been when she was married to Robert.. Her parents were Sir Adam & Lady Mure of Rowllan. **** I have Elizabeth's formal title as Countess of Strathearn, but another has her as Countess of Atholl. It seems both may be correct as Robert held both Earldoms which would have made her a Countess through Courtesy title. This is assuming he held the titles during their marriage which I have not verified the dates of yet. Should the spelling of the last name of all people descended from Robert Stewart be STUART OR STEWART.. I have been baffled.. Was not sure which spelling to use.. Especially if there were an illegitimate children of Kings etc. *** Either. There is no answer to this question I'm afraid. While it is correct that the name Stuart and Steuart comes from Queen Mary's spelling based on her French upbringing, you will find many Stewart families who were mere distant relatives of Mary's direct family changed the spelling of their names as well. So for technical purposes and historical accuracy, the name SHOULD be spelled Stewart if you are of the family not descended from Mary Stuart, but it isn't that simple and is not the case. My own family spells their Stuart and it interchanges throughout history on various records sometimes back and forth within the same family. Hope this has helped some. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>