In a message dated 8/22/98 8:46:15 PM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > This has helped me to understand why there were so many William Stones > in my family. Diane > > NAMING TRADITIONS > > 1st son = father's father > 2nd. son = mother's father > 3rd son = father > 4th son = father's 2nd oldest brother or mother's oldest brother > 1st daughter = mother's mother > 2nd daughter = father's mother > 3rd daughter = mother > 4th daughter = mother's oldest sister > 5th daughter = mother's 2nd oldest sister or father's oldest sister > > (naming traditions courtesy of Sharan Ellingsworth Lesmeister) > The above may be true is some parts of the country but in the Old South it was more common for the first born son to be named after the father of the mother. Also the use of the fathers name was usually far down the list.