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Does this happen?

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Hannah

Hannah Report 1 Sep 2007 16:14

Hello Everyone,
I was just wondering if the spelling on surnames can sometimes change over the census?
I was looking for the Parents of Jane Dainteth on the census and i think i found them because i knew they were William and Anne BUT on the census it is spelt Dentith. Im sure it is them but the spelling is slightly different. I was wondering can this happen?

Hannah

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 1 Sep 2007 16:17

Oh yes........they can change several times over the years.

People who were illiterate often had no idea about how their names were spelt.......and enumerators wrote down the phonetic versions.........

Reg

Hannah

Hannah Report 1 Sep 2007 16:18

Thanks everyone! that helps a lot.....xx

Teddys Girl

Teddys Girl Report 1 Sep 2007 16:19

Had four years looking for a great great grandmother with the surname Hazell, Then found out she was really Layzell.
What a headache over the years

Hannah

Hannah Report 1 Sep 2007 16:35

Another quick question, do the years sometimes get mixed up too? Like i've followed one particular relative over 3 different census and his estimated year of birth has changed over about 3 years, i know its estimated but is 3 years too much of a change??

Hannah

Hannah

Hannah Report 1 Sep 2007 16:39

Oh good, im glad im not the only one thats noticed it!

~Summer Scribe~

~Summer Scribe~ Report 1 Sep 2007 16:51

You have to remember, when looking at the census, that the information on them is only as good as those who were giving it and those that were writing it down. So there were many mistakes made with ages, name spellings, first names (Vs nicknames) and even places of birth.

Also, errors are made all the time in the transcriptions so the results you get on the search may not actually be what's on the original image, so it's always important to check what's written on them. I found one that said he was 77 and his wife 78. Nearly discounted them but when I looked at the image it was 55 and 58, which made them right for the people I was looking for.

Human error is always a major factor in these searches.

LakesLass

LakesLass Report 1 Sep 2007 21:13

Hi Hannah
yes I too have the same problem, Pre 1855 and mostly in Scotland but theres one occurance in London 25 years later..
I have Nelson & Neilson and also Robson, Robison and even Robertson. Robson and Robertson being mothers maiden name on siblings birth certs, one of which is my ggrandfather.
Been a bit of a nightmare for the last 18months.
regards
Janet