My family solved the problem about 1820-30 they dropped the E ! I descend from Abednego Earp, Sr., his son Abednego Earp, Jr. changed his name to Benjamin Arp and relocated from Wilkes Co.,NC to Monroe Co.,TN. Several other families relocated with him including a sister and brother, as well as members of the Gray and Grayson families. It has always been an interesting story. Family legend has it that Abednegos Sr. and Jr. had a disagreement of sorts and thus accounted for the name change but after seeing disputes about the pronunciation even today I think it may have been a simple clarification issue.