Eric Conard chides me for not covering German naming practices and noting that Quakers used middle names earlier than Anglicans. Please note that my comments about naming apply to ENGLISH colonists in VIRGINIA, the topic of the query. German, French, Dutch, and Spanish colonists followed the practices of their home countries. Catholic Irish (of whom there were very few in Virginia before the 19th century) also differed slightly, sometimes using saints' names instead of or in addition to English forenames. Anglican Irish used the English style and often Anglicized traditional Irish names (e.g., Teige into Thaddeus and Donough into Dennis). There were very few Puritans in Virginia; their naming practices in New England (and old England) are distinctive and vary somewhat from Anglican norms. Several excellent articles on Puritan names exist. (I don't have references handy, but a Google search should provide them for anyone interested in pursuing the matter further.) Quakers in general followed the Anglican practice, but they too had their own distinct habits. Quakers settled principally in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey, not Virginia. Kathleen Much To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html