Surname Spellings

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Variations in Surname Spellings

No doubt every family history researcher has encountered differences in the spelling of surnames. These variations often occur as a result of the recorder of the event writes what he hears and this is not disputed by the parties involved as illiteracy was common just a few generations ago, or simply the transcriber has made a mistake. In a few cases, individuals have voluntarily changed their spelling or complete name to something more socially acceptable.

A decision has to be made on how to deal with these variations in a family tree program taking into account what was the likely spelling, how do current family members spell their names and the administration of the records e.g. search facility.

My approach is where the surname spelling is generally not in doubt but a minor difference occurs, I simply place a note of the difference on the appropriate record.

Where, as in my own family, minor differences occur but are often repeated throughout the generations, for past members I select a "most likely" spelling and for living members I obviously respect how they actually spell their names.

Listed below, in alphabetical order, are the main families where variations have occurred and and how in general they are recorded on this website.

The Colesill Family

Probably the biggest example of variations of spellings in these web pages and I initially elected to record all members as Colesill.

See Colesill spellings page in the "histories" section for more information.

The Cornwell Family

Shown as Cornell in Rebecca Cornwell nee Smith's death certificate and Cornwall in Thomas Cornwell's baptism entry in Southchurch, Essex parish register. I have recorded all as Cornwell

The Durrant Family

Not many variations here although a few transcribed as Durant. I have recorded all as Durrant.

The Jeffrey Family

My father spelt his surname Jeffrey as does his younger brother Peter as that's how it was recorded on their birth certificates. However, middle brother Raymond followed the Jeffery spelling of their father, Edmund Jeffery, so perhaps that is the correct spelling of the family name. If only it was that simple!

Certainly Edmund's birth certificate shows his, and his father Alfred, as Jeffery but his marriage certificate states this as Edward Jeffey. As his first name is mis-spelt, this casts doubt on the accuracy of the surname spelling in this document.

I have been unable to find a birth certificate for Alfred but various spellings have been recorded in other documents :-

1923 Daughter Charlotte Marriage Certificate - shown as Jeffries
1911 Census - transcribed as Jeffrey
1901 Census - transcribed as Jeffery
1898 Daughter Lily 's Birth Certificate - shown as Jeffery
1893 Marriage Certificate - shown as Jeffery

Assuming I have found the correct family for Alfred's parents, see The Jeffrey Family page for more details on this connection), his father Frederick's surname is spelt :-
1871 Census - transcribed as Jeffery
1861 Census - transcribed as Jeffrey
1851 Census - transcribed as Jeffries
1841 Census - transcribed as Jeffries
1840 Marriage Certificate - shown as Jeffreys

Although I have yet to trace Alfred in 1881 and 1891 census', I have possibly found two of his sisters and a nephew living in Dawlish, Devon and on the same census return, all three have different surname spellings i.e.
Sarah Jefferrys
Elizabeth Jefferys
Fredrick Jeffreys

So what conclusions, if any, can be drawn from these documents. Probably none at all except that as early generations were probably unable to read or write, the spelling of their surname was largely irrelevant to them. For the purpose of recording details in these web pages I have elected for consistency, apart from my own family, to use the Jeffery spelling and note where differences occur in various documents.

The Nott Family

Occasionally transcribed as Knott but all recorded as Nott.

The Wilders Family

Early generations seem to be known as Wilder and later as Wilders. Occasionally transcribed as Willders or Wildes. I have recorded all members as Wilders.