Surname spellings have left me confused!!

[Benn2509]

I'm researching a line of my Maternal tree, and I've come across half a dozen different ways of spelling the surname.
I'm a bit worried now that its different families I'm looking at, but the census info I have matches with places of birth and ages, occupations etc.
For example, in 1901, I've got the spelling Ackerley, in 1891, the spelling is Hackley, 1871 and 1881 are Ackerley, Then 1861 and 1851 is Hagarty and Haggarty , and finally in 1841 its Haggerton!!!
I've also come across Haggerty in some of the bmd records.
Is this a common thing from the 19th century, or do I have a problem!!
Please help. I look forward to any suggestions.
Thanks, Benn.

[casalguidi]

Hi Benn

ACKERLEY and HACKLEY sounds quite feasible with the "H" being dropped in pronounciation but I'd be a bit worried about the name supposedly being derived from HAG(G)ARTY and HAGGERTON etc. unless you can find some explanation for the "change of name"

Saying that though, if everything else matches - I see you are referring to the following http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,131687.0.html ....................... the HAGGERY to ACKERLEY matches doesn't it

Have you thought about the origins of the family ie. Ireland/Yorkshire and how either of the names would be pronounced in their dialect and how they would sound to natives of other parts of the country?  I have a HUTCHINSON from Yorkshire but when she moved south, the name was written as HODGINSON - presumably because that is what it sounded like in a strong Yorkshire dialect to a southerner!

Casalguidi

[kerryb]

This is currently an issue I am coming to terms with.  It seems that our ancestors could change surname between generations.  I guess it depended on who was doing the writing for whatever reason, census return, marriage certificate etc.

I now have Terry/Terrey and Rhoades/Rhodes/Roads and Pilbeam/Pilbeame

I also have an Isaac Risbridger whose son was John Rusbridge. 

So long as all the other details fit they probably are right.

Kerry

[yn9man]

Hi Benn -

I think many of us are dealing with this same issue. I have he same or similar problem with many name changes. I think many census numerators wrote what they "heard". Many people were not that educated.

I have a Mary/Marie/ Mattie/ Mettie, a Sanders/Saunders/Sandies, and a Jory/Jury/Jorey/Jorre. I was also told by my grandmother that the more ways you could spell your name the more important you were.

As long as all the other details/data match/reconcile you probably have the right person.

yn9man

[Little Nell]

It is important to remember that spelling was not set in stone in the times of our ancestors.

As far as names are concerned, someone once said try holding your nose and then saying the name.  You would be surprised what it might sound like!  It sometimes helps to imagine what a name would sound like if the person saying it had a heavy cold.  Add a strong accent and there are endless possibilities.

There is another thought.  Ask someone else to say names to you (or watch yourself in a mirror), but only mouth them i.e. do not say them out loud.  Look at the way their mouths/lips form the words.  Do you think you would be able to definitely tell the difference between the sounds "pea..." and "bea.."  or "tee..." and "dee.."  Many people who are hard of hearing for whatever reason struggle with these letter combinations.  The tongue is in the same place in the mouth but can produce a different sound according to whether it is a voiced consonant like d or unvoiced, as in t.

Nell

[Pels.]

I myself have just found a Hingelsen who in fact was an Ingleson.
On another, an Allison, whom the enumerator had quite clearly written as Hallison.
Both of the above Yorkshire families.
On reflection I can 'hear' my own very dear, but now sadly departed dad, often adding an H in front of a vowel.
So be wary, when unable to find a name, which starts with a vowel in Yorkshire, pop an 'aitch' in front and see what 'appens!

Pels 

[yn9man]

Little Nell -

Very well stated. 

yn9man

[kerryb]

And I guess if you can't read or write then you wouldn't know what your surname looks like in writing.

So if an Enumerator or a Parish Priest wrote Terrey and thought it should have an E in it that's what we end up with.  MY William Terry may not have been able to say sorry no E in there!

Kerry

[yn9man]

Different "spellings" are just another piece of the puzzle we get to try and solve.

yn9man