Happy New Year, listers! Has anyone ever come across the possibility that the two surnames above might be connected - ie one being derived from the other? I've consulted George Redmond but he doesn't mention Southwell at all, and gives Soothill as being derived from a place. I ask because I found (in 1941) a Herbert A Southwell in Sowerby near Halifax where the A stood for Alginton, a crazy sort of name. I've had difficulties with the Southwell family possibly from around Heptonstall before, and I thought he might give me a new angle to follow. He was a grandson of Squire Southwell who lived at Lower Oak Sowerby in 1871. Lower Oak was the home after this date of a John Barraclough and his wife Sarah Ann Soothill and their large family .... including Arthur Alginton Barraclough, b 18 November 1889 almost certainly at Lower Oak. While it's possible Alginton should have been Allington, I am intrigued as to why it should occur twice in families where there is possiby also a surname cross-reference. Any ideas? I haven't found a connection yet. Thanks! Maggie