Steve, You seem to be a researcher, without bias! All Searches, are full of Rabbit Holes, divorces, family names same, adoptions, etc. this is why, "Roots" was such a good book, on researching a person ancestry. Surnames, in Historical Time, are really recent, and can be very tricky, location, location, location (just like Real Estate Sales) are very important, on this Continent, the New World (you betcha, try tracing Native Americans) regardless, its a 'Puzzle', that can be put together, depending how many Generations a person wants to go back! D.N.A. search can give a person a 'Location' where to start their search! My success on my Scottish Side was Easy, because of Highland History is well documented, because of the War's for the Crown of Scotland. English, is tough because of the common name, but my Native American Side, is clean on my Father's Side, very blurred on my mother's side. Bummer. This has been my experience: Dr. Gene~Landrum, Theorist/Philosopher