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Which surname spelling should I use, please?

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Helen

Helen Report 19 Jul 2005 16:54

Thank you all for your advice. Best Wishes, Helen

Helen

Helen Report 19 Jul 2005 14:40

If I find a spelling variation I usually add that person with the alternative spelling. I find if you have lots of variants in your tree it's more likely someone on this site will 'match' with one of your names. This has been especially helpful with my Whiffen/Whiffin/Wiffen/Wiffin/Wyffen/Wyffin/Whyffen/Whyffin(Repeat with a 'g' on the end!) line.

Lisa

Lisa Report 19 Jul 2005 12:41

I've got ancestors who started out as STINCHCOMBES, decided to drop the E and spent a while as STINCHCOMBS, and then reverted back to the original spelling, so I've got both in my tree. Apparently the original spelling may have been St Cwm! Lisa

Carol

Carol Report 19 Jul 2005 12:25

Back then, a lot of people were illiterate, and the registrar wrote down what he heard. How you record it is really up to you. Personally, I would record everyone with the same spelling, but include a note of the alternatives. On the family history programme I use, for each event for each person, there is a tab for note and another for source. A friend of my parents was Irish and she had a lot of sisters. The surname was spelt different on all their birth certificates. Dad said that it depended on how drunk their father was when he registered their births.

Judith

Judith Report 19 Jul 2005 12:22

I have a similar situation with my Everett/ Evered/ Everit/ Everard line. I check how they spell their name as adults (on marriage certificates etc) and enter them with that spelling but make a note of how the vicar recorded the name in the baptism register.

Helen

Helen Report 19 Jul 2005 12:17

My grandmother's maiden name was HEWINS. This has been transcribed a dozen or so ways on various census but I have always checked the original image & then recorded them as HEWINS on my tree. Going further back today I have found IGI refs for the family in the 1820s, they are extracted records not submitted. There are 6 christening records all the same parents but 3 different surname spellings EWING, HEWIN, HEWINS, & HEWENS. Which spelling should I use to enter them on my tree? Another member has the exact matches for these children (I emailed her in June with no reply but have tried again today) - she has recorded them all as Hewins. Thanks, Helen