Genealogy Chat

Hello Susan Apart from transcription errors, there may be an in correct entry on the original form. My great grandfather Enos Price is entered in the 1871 census as Price Enos while his wife and children all have the Price surname. Try swapping the names around as I understand this error is quite common. Jim W

The 1901 census was transcribed (I believe) mainly by prisoners and people on the Indian subcontinent, who were not necessarily familiar with English personal names or place names. To give you an idea of the sort of error: My grandfather JEUEL was transcribed as DENEL Great-uncle LEMUEL as LEONARD (understandable) My Smoothy relatives all renamed LENORTHEY If you look at an original census image you can see how difficult it is to decipher writing, especially if you don't know what it is meant to say. Recently some kind person on this board found my MATTHEWS family on the 1871 census, they'd been written without the Ts being crossed and transcribed as MARTHERS. similarly my gt gt grandfather, Emmets Matthews has been given on censuses as Emits, Emmels and Emmetts. So think about how the name might look if written in florid writing, or sound out loud and think of alternative spellings. In the case of my Smoothy/Lenortheys, I found them by searching on first names, date and place of birth without a surname. Helen

Hiya Susan My Great Grandmother is not appearing on the 1891 Census. She was around though, as I have her marriage certificate. She married later that year!!! Don't give up looking though. They may well turn up somewhere unexpected!! Love Sarah.

I have just started tracing my family tree. I have found names in the 1891 census with thanks to Anna S but cannot find them in the 1901 census at all. Is this common?