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ArchivesRe: anyone know why many last names were changed from the original forms to some slightly different forms??
in reply to a message by Steven
Sometimes its a regional difference, like songs and verses are different in different regions of England or America.
My personal hunch is that there were many illiterate people at one time who couldn't spell and when they gave their names they got put down however the clerk thought they should be spelled. English spelling wasn't standardized until 16-something.
Sometimes it's a clan thing as with Scottish names. I don't know about your name, but any geneology search ought to clear it up or a look through family records to see if it ever appears with a more conventional spelling.
Good luck!
My personal hunch is that there were many illiterate people at one time who couldn't spell and when they gave their names they got put down however the clerk thought they should be spelled. English spelling wasn't standardized until 16-something.
Sometimes it's a clan thing as with Scottish names. I don't know about your name, but any geneology search ought to clear it up or a look through family records to see if it ever appears with a more conventional spelling.
Good luck!
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