MacDonalds from Skye to London?

[Rosinish]

I wonder if this is the Henry John Macdonald I should have been looking for?

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5XK-29N

Name    Henry Thomas Mcdonald
Gender    Male
Christening Date    20 Oct 1805
Christening Place    SAINT ANNE SOHO,WESTMINSTER,LONDON,ENGLAND
Birth Date    29 Sep 1805
Father's Name    John Mcdonald
Mother's Name    Eleanor

But that pushes the legendry Scottish roots back another generation to John and Eleanor. From where?

I have highlighted it.........Henry Thomas.............not Henry John?

Annie

[Rosinish]

Could this be relevant....

Henry T MacDonald
Service number   2756
Rank   Private
London Regiment
Soldier Number: 2756, Rank: Private, Corps: London Regiment
Archive reference WO372/12
Archive reference description, Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards
Great Britain
Image link   http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D3790500
Record set   World War One British Army medal index cards
Category   Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory First World War
Collections from   Great Britain

Annie

[K MacDonald]

I should have added, the name John MacDonald/McDonald in Scotland with no specifics & only a possible for a yr of birth would be a "needle in a haystack" sadly as John was a very common name.

Annie

Yes, the number of "John Macdonald"s is doing my head in.

For example, this one from the 1861 census:
Name    John Macdonald
Wife = Sophia Macdonald
Birth Year (Estimated)   1816
Birthplace   Scotland
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MG-C3LN

That doesn't seem to be(?) the same strand of Macdonalds I'm looking for.

Except, just to confuse me, the 1861 census says he's living in Ely Place, Lambeth. Which just happens to be the same street where, according to the 1881 census, my Maria Frances (Hurle) Macdonald and her son Robert were also living.

What are the odds of that happening?
But I can find no connection between the two branches.
It's hurting my head. 

[Rosinish]

Mmmm.......families did tend to "stick together" & it wouldn't surprise me if they were related.

John is the only name I can pin as a Scottish name apart from William which is very much less common although not as uncommon as Henry or Thomas.

I wonder if Henry is anywhere on census as Harry?

Annie

[Rosinish]

1861

12, Brewer Street North, Clerkenwell, London, England

Henry MacDonald   Head   Married   31   1830   Porter H M Stationery Office   Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England
Maria   MacDonald   Wife   Married   26   1835   -   Islington, Middlesex, England
Maria   MacDonald   Daughter   5   1856   Scholar   Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England   
Mary Ann   MacDonald   Daughter   3   1858   Scholar   City of London, Middlesex, England   Transcription
Emily A   MacDonald   Daughter   1   1860   -   Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England   
Henry   Hurle   Visitor   Unmarried      21   1840   Book Binder   Islington, Middlesex, England

Annie

[Rosinish]

It's father John & Eleanor who are elusive & most needed 

Annie

[K MacDonald]

1861

12, Brewer Street North, Clerkenwell, London, England
...
Annie

Nice to have it confirmed, thanks.
Added: http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Macdonald-2284

[K MacDonald]

It's father John & Eleanor who are elusive & most needed 

Annie

Yes, it's frustrating. I've found some details on the marriage between Henry Thomas and Eliza Ann Hurle, but it doesn't have any details of the parents.

Is that typical for the era?

[K MacDonald]

Here's a salutary lesson on how easily one can get fooled. I've been searching the 1881 and 1891 census records, trying to find Henry John Thomas Macdonald and Maria Hurle in London with Macdonald and/or McDonald as the surname. No joy.

Would you believe it, I've found them with Mackdonald as the surname. With all of the youngest children still at home.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6R-8CFG

Is this a common thing with the English getting confused about how to spell Scottish surnames?