[RegulatorCountry]

Their surname, occupation, the sort of places they settled along the way all can point to origin. Who they migrated with can be a major clue.

If it was central NC or upstaTe SC, I’d suggest Jamestown first for English surnames, followed by Maryland especially if they were tobacco planters. German, Swiss surnames could have come down from PA, look around Bucks County, Easton, etc., or possibly New Bern in coastal NC. French, back to VA and Manakintowne which later became Richmond, various ports of entry. I suppose Charleston is a possibility too, but I’ve never encountered that with any of mine, enter at Charleston means staying Low Country in my exposure, not heading inland.

[Ditter]

The family of my mothers mother first showed up in records in 1700’s Virginia. I can't come up with the city name right now I'd have to find my notes. I can trace this family fairly well to Texas in the late 1820’s. The thing that makes me dizzy is they use the same names over again. There was an Elijah and an Elisha Issacks (twins). Then another set of twins with the same names. On my mother's father's side so many were named Stephen Matlock. I remember being so confused that I ended up putting it all away. I am sure it was my fault for not being more organized.