I think that is true Chris as they tend to use Saints names. It's possible if the reigning monarch was Catholic then the Catholic people would lean toward Royalism........but if the monarch decided to break away from Rome then what. So maybe a christian name had nothing to do with your choice it would be dependant on religion. For some reason I'm having a hard time sorting this out in my head. Marg >From the Beautiful British Columbia Cariboo Region, Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: CHRISTINE WILLOTT Years ago i read an article in a FH magazine saying that names like Stephen, Francis and Thomas indicated a possible catholic family. Chris ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Margaret Cambridge <talktomarg@shaw.ca> It seems to me if a family tended to name their children Charles, William, Edward, Elizabeth, Mary, etc., they were likely to have been Royalists and those that used Jeremiah, Matthew, etc., probably would have been Puritans or Parliamentarians. Was this generally true? I've been wondering what their lives may have been like mid 1600's depending on what side they took yet how can you know for sure. Any thoughts appreciated. Marg