family name

Here 25 first names combine with the P of her sur name.

THE one thing a family historian dreads is trying to trace a popular sur name. It is one thing trying to trace a man with a highly unusual name such as one I was looking for in early 18th century Prescot who was rather bizarrely named Ambrose Pierpoint, but if you are seeking a John Smith or David Jones many researchers often let out a groan of despair!

Although he recognises some positives from his past - how, for example, the church was a focal point in the community - he says: "There are digs at it and part of the attack is 'How on earth could you ever believe it?'" Terry has two sons - aged 16 and 12 - but their own upbringings have been a little different to their dad's: "They didn't go to Catholic schools, but they did get christened - you should have seen the nun's face as she was writing out the certificate and realised me and their mum had different sur names!

Big Sur names the coastal area between Carmel and the southern border of Monterey County.