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HelpRandom question about last names?
Okay, so I've met some people who have the same last names but different spelling? For example, Gaines is Gaines, Cochrane vs Cochran, Green vs Greene. Does anyone know why this is?
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What other people have said (pretty much the same reasons 1st names have variations; differences in literacy, culture, language, accent, time, taste), but speaking specifically for my surname - it is a habitational name for a place on the French-German border. The spelling of the place is different in French than in German, and that's reflected in the surname variations.
And for English examples like Greene vs Green, I think E endings like that were more common in an older form of English (they used to be pronounced like a schwa, then there was a transition period to silent Es; though this was before standardized spelling anyway). So possibly the Green families that don't use an E modernized the spelling at some point for convenience or they might have taken a surname later to begin with (surnames weren't always a thing) or they might have translated from a surname meaning "green" in a different language or they might have originally had a compound surname and felt like shortening it.
And for English examples like Greene vs Green, I think E endings like that were more common in an older form of English (they used to be pronounced like a schwa, then there was a transition period to silent Es; though this was before standardized spelling anyway). So possibly the Green families that don't use an E modernized the spelling at some point for convenience or they might have taken a surname later to begin with (surnames weren't always a thing) or they might have translated from a surname meaning "green" in a different language or they might have originally had a compound surname and felt like shortening it.
This message was edited 7/21/2024, 4:52 PM
Probably just how languages evolve over time, especially before many people were literate and spelling wasn't standard. I read recently that William Shakespeare spelled his own name something like eleven different ways.
Just in general, I think spelling of everything used to be a lot more flexible. Not saying that's the reason why, but I think it's part of the context at least.
I also think that in the past, many written documents were not considered to be authoritative. They were only supposed to record some information, to describe events - not prescribe how people had to be identified. *sigh wouldn't that be nice*
I also think that in the past, many written documents were not considered to be authoritative. They were only supposed to record some information, to describe events - not prescribe how people had to be identified. *sigh wouldn't that be nice*
Mispellings for various reasons back in the day; someone wrote it down wrong, they didn't know how to spell it, or just didn't care.
My mother's maiden name is Telles when it should really be spelled Tellez.
My mother's maiden name is Telles when it should really be spelled Tellez.
My family has this and we are related to each other. The story goes that there was a misspelling in the army and nobody bothered to pay to have it changed back the E on the end was "Americanized". My maiden name was also changed from what it was over in Norway from a family name to a place name and a letter was dropped when they came to America probably to make pronunciation easier.
I had another family change from Tolefson to Strand when they came to America. I heard it was because there were too many tolefsons but I'm not sure if that is the true reason.
Another French ancestor was Giuseppe and changed it to Joeseph Sippy.
I think names were a lot easier to change back then maybe preference of the family aesthetically or a way to tell them apart if there were alot of them.
Modern day I met a immigrant who was going through a name change. He was Muslim and it raised alot of suspicion for him. I asked him why. I had called him the wrong name for years. (Knew him through wotk). He explained that the government mixed him and his brothers names up when they came to America. He lived with it but he was starting to have kids and he didn't want them to be confused why dad was 1 name one place and a different name another place so he decided to go through the Hassel to change it
I had another family change from Tolefson to Strand when they came to America. I heard it was because there were too many tolefsons but I'm not sure if that is the true reason.
Another French ancestor was Giuseppe and changed it to Joeseph Sippy.
I think names were a lot easier to change back then maybe preference of the family aesthetically or a way to tell them apart if there were alot of them.
Modern day I met a immigrant who was going through a name change. He was Muslim and it raised alot of suspicion for him. I asked him why. I had called him the wrong name for years. (Knew him through wotk). He explained that the government mixed him and his brothers names up when they came to America. He lived with it but he was starting to have kids and he didn't want them to be confused why dad was 1 name one place and a different name another place so he decided to go through the Hassel to change it
I know someone with the last name Strand. Imagine if we know the same family, or if they're related in someway!
It's possible but it's a pretty common last name.
Different anglicizations. When people first come here, the government often spells their names wrong, and it just stays that way.
Can't edit my post but I had a typo - I meant Ganes vs Gaines.