To further confuse the situation, I just wanted to bring up what for lack of a better term I will call "descending nicknames". For example, to distinguish David Smith, Jr. from his father around the house he will often be called "D.J." or, more rarely "Chip" (as in chip off the old block - Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves is an example of this, I believe). D.J.'s son David might be referred to as "Tres" or "Trey" (as in French for three - Trey Anastasio from the band Phish is one of these, I understand). Anyone know of others?
Now my situation, though it may not be interesting to you, is sort of quirky. My father is the first, and takes no suffix to his name. I generally go as "Jr.", but only when it is neccessary to distinguish myself from him. The tricky bit is my cousin, who is older than I and shares the exact same name as my father and I. How does he distinguish himself from my Dad? As my father's family is not particularly close, it's never really been an issue, but it often nags at me.
Oh, and what about people who go around calling themselves Thurson Howell II (the second)? It that just pretentious or is there some genealogical reason for it?
David Provost II
