Sr meant the oldest man in the neighborhood with that name. Jr was the next oldest and may have been no relation at all. Barbara Jennings -----Original Message----- From: Bill and Sue McNaught [SMTP:pp02570@email.kcc.edu] Sent: Monday, March 01, 1999 3:38 PM To: SW_VA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Naming Traditions I have a question regarding the use of Sr. and Jr.. Was this always father and son, or was it ever a practice for an uncle to use Sr. when he had a nephew named for him? Also, I have a Washington Co. Montgomery family that gave many of their children surnames as middle names. I see no family connections, and wonder if it was a custom to name a child for a friend. While I'm on the subject of names, does anyone know where the name Greenberry came from? I was puzzled by the number of people named Lorenzo Dow Something until I learned Mr. Dow was a well known travelling evangelist. Sue McNaught ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== #4 Chain letters, gossip, non-genealogical notes, commercial ads, pleas for help, etc. are PROHIBITED on this List. Violators will be promptly locked out. -sysop