Genealogy Chat

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I was reading Looby Loo’s thread about her family name change from Coyne to Coin and as I have a similar problem, I was wondering what name would you put on a family tree? My Gt Gt Grandmother listed her name on her wedding cert as Goyin, but when searching the census info for the rest of the family they are listed as Goynes on the 1861, Goin on the 1871 and Goyne on the 1881. Which name would you put on your tree?? I can put in the notes about the spelling changes and list the alternatives, but on a site like this where people can search on a surname which one should I put in the tree as her last name? Brenda

Any half-decent family historian will not be put off by different spelling of what is clearly the same name. Technically, the earliest version of name is the most 'correct'. I have cases where the parents' surname is spelt one way and the child's another, on the same document. Personally, I use the most 'common' version that appears in my tree, except when the tree is shown to family members. They just don't get why the names are apparently different and I can't be bothered to keep explaining.

I go for the most uptodate version, regarding it as fairly settled, especially as its usually written by my relatives. Way back in early records, my ancestors were illiterate and the spelling depended upon the parish clerk, who seemed perfectly capable of spelling it any number of ways throughout the years, even though he must have known the families concerned over a long period of time. So my Chouns/Chowndes are recorded Chowns Malin/Mellins are Mealing but I have noted the different variations on individual information. I also assume anyone researching the name will be starting with the most up to date version and working backwards. Nell

I agree with Nell - I use the most recent spelling as Default and record 'Found spellings' in brackets. I too worry about people's inability to grasp variations in a name - I have today received a polite email from someone doing a one name study into 'Holding' - I offered them my Holdens/Houldens/Houldings/Howldens and so on - declining my offering, as they are only interested in HOLDING!!!(Lots a luck with THAT study, then). Olde Crone

I would use the latest name too. I found Braycotton for a friend.It was her grandmothers name. The name only appeared around Walsall in 1901 living with a Mold family. When I looked further back the name was Cotton.The family had B as a middle name so probably Bray was the middle name.They were living next to the Mold family. Somehow they became Braycotton