[Nell]

Two more instances:

My gt grandfather's marriage cert has a witness called Mott. He appears on the 1881 census staying with the family and is clearly a long-standing (probably from school) friend.

My father had a family story about a man and 2 sons who drowned while out fishing. Dad thought it was his grandmother's family, but she was illegitimate and an only child! She was determined because of the accident to ensure none of her sons became fishermen. I think it was actually his grandfather's 3 brothers, all of whom disappear without trace. Haven't found the incident but I can work out a rough date as his grandfather's occupation of fishing changes to ag lab - recorded in the baptisms of his children.