:: However, a "maiden name" is usualy the preserve of a married woman :: (as :: the phrase itself suggests), so it's not overly surprising a 16 :: year old :: male didn't have one. That was the point. He came across the question in the application form, which if I recall said ' if applicable maiden name ', though on reflection (all 17 years of it) at least he did ask rather than guess so I suppose a brownie point should be awarded. At that time that would have been a standard question on most application forms in the UK. Colin -- cdb, colin@btech-online.co.uk on 9/01/2009 Web presence: www.btech-online.co.uk Hosted by: www.1and1.co.uk/?k_id=7988359 -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist