Brenda J Scott For naming practices in the late 1700's and early to mid 1800's in Va, with possible ancestry from Western European (English, Welsh, Scottish) would the middle name of male children be a family name, or would it be more of the modern practices such as Robert William Jones? My John Alexander Stephens/Stevens born cir 1811 is just the hardest man to trace back to any parent or sibling, indeed any prior relative at all. I'm just wondering if the Alexander in his name could be a family surname. Any thoughts?