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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: MarkyP on Friday 15 November 24 14:38 GMT (UK)

Title: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: MarkyP on Friday 15 November 24 14:38 GMT (UK)
Hello all, can anyone possibly help me decipher the surname after son in law William? I know what I want it to be but I need some new eyes!

Thanks in advance,

Mark
Title: Re: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: softly softly on Friday 15 November 24 14:41 GMT (UK)
I see Lannam

SS
Title: Re: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: horselydown86 on Friday 15 November 24 14:51 GMT (UK)
I would say:  Hannam

There's a capital L in Law at the beginning of the line, which provides a comparison.
Title: Re: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: MarkyP on Friday 15 November 24 20:29 GMT (UK)
Thanks for your replies, I can see the likeness between the Ls, but I was thinking it's not quite the same, could it be a J?
Title: Re: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: goldie61 on Friday 15 November 24 21:02 GMT (UK)
Thanks for your replies, I can see the likeness between the Ls, but I was thinking it's not quite the same, could it be a J?

Not really.
In this hand, J was often the same as a capital 'I'.
You can see an I in the line below. It's not the same as the first letter of William's name.
I'd agree with horselydown that in this hand, the first letter of his name is a capital H, making Hannam.
Title: Re: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: haliared on Saturday 16 November 24 09:42 GMT (UK)
I was way out, I thought it said Gannam!
Title: Re: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: MarkyP on Saturday 16 November 24 13:51 GMT (UK)
Thank you, I think you're probably right, I was hoping people were going to see Jerram  :)
Title: Re: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: horselydown86 on Saturday 16 November 24 14:16 GMT (UK)
...I was hoping people were going to see Jerram  :)

Definitely not.

The formation of his r is consistent.  Examples from each line are listed below:

for, ffunerall, sterling
desire
overseere
Care, for


This r is clearly not seen in the surname.
Title: Re: Help with deciphering a surname please
Post by: MarkyP on Saturday 16 November 24 14:45 GMT (UK)
Thank you.