Slightly O/T - Confusing Transcription

[Half Pint]

Hi

I had to share this one with you all while I get my brain back together.

Having spent the last hour looking for Henry and Maria Hollock on the 1851 census, I came across this transcription for Boxmoor, Hemel

Name     Age
Flonk Hollock    28
Maria Hollock    28
Charlotte Hollock    8
Emma Hollock    1
Henry Hollock    10 Mo

To be honest when you go to the original his name isn't very clear, but where on earth did they get that from.......

Regards

Half Pint

[JenB]

He is transcribed as Henry Hollock on Find my Past 

To be fair, I supose the little flourish at the start of the 'H' does make it look a tiny bit like an 'F'........but you would think that someone with a small amount of common sense might have questioned 'Flonk'.

Jennifer

[Ezekial]

I can fully understand where your coming from Half Pint, i was looking for some of my travelling gypsy ancestors on the 1871 census and it clearly says they were ' Dwelling In Tents ,' yet someone in their infinate wisdom transcibed it as ' Durling In Pents ' totally unbelievable

china

[alpinecottage]

I found a 70 yr old I was looking for transcribed as "Apprentice Sawyer" - what? at 70 ! was he a very slow learner?

On looking at the original, I could see it said "Assessor and Surveyor" - 

[ElvisMole]

Hi

Flonk is a valid surname, as the attached marriage detail shows.

R

[JenB]

Flonk is a valid surname, as the attached marriage detail shows.

It is, however, an unusual surname; the example you've given is, I think, the only one to be found in the GRO Indexes.

And the one HalfPint quoted was as a Christian name.

Jennifer