I am not aware of a name change to KINZER from MCKINSTER, although anything is possible. People spelled names the way they heard them and many variations caught on. The first MCKINSTER in Tazewell/Russell counties was William McKinster, who married Elizabeth Hines/Hail in Greenbrier Co. in 1790. They came to Russell County in 1797-1799. William MCKENSTER shows up on the 1799 tax list of Russell Co. Then the 1801 and 1802 tax lists of Tazewell Co. William purchased 70 acres of land on July 11, 1807, from John and Nancy Ervin. I have not determined what happened to that land. By 1810 Elizabeth McKinster is listed as the tax payer and William no longer appears on any records that I have been able to find. They had two sons, William II and Ambrose, who owned land in Tazewell but sold and went to Kentucky by 1820. There were also several McKinster women and most went to Kentucky also. I do have a marriage record for a Jane MCKENSTER, recorded as "McVeinster", to a Mastin Christian on 1 Sept 1822. They had a son, William Christian and daughter, Ruth Christian. Jane and Mastin were separated or divorced before 1828. This Jane and her children apparently stayed in Tazewell. There is another marriage of a Cathan MCKENSTER to a John Christian on 4 Aug 1823. Since he married a second time on 27 July 1837 we assume they divorced. I have been unable to find the parents of either of these two women - Jane and Cathan McKenster. Can anyone connect to either of these women? The last recorded record in Tazewell of a McKinster that I have been able to find is the sale of property by a Mary McKinster on Aug 5, 1828. I have been unable to determine who this Mary is and what happened to her after the sale of the property. Any help on this family would be greatly appreciated. Lowell McKinster, Augusta, GA