One clue is to look at the places of birth of the parents. So even though they are using the name Howell, they are saying the father was born in AL when Thomas was born in SC-- Household:  Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace  <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_11761040_0&frompage=5">Thomas HOWELL</A>   Self   M   Male   W   54   SC   Carpenter   SC   SC   <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_11761040_1&frompage=5">Evaline HOWELL</A>   Wife   M   Female   W   45   AL   Keeping House   SC   AL   <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_11761040_2&frompage=5">Elizabeth HOWELL</A>   Dau   S   Female   W   21   AL   At Home   AL   AL   <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_11761040_3&frompage=5">Malind J. HOWELL</A>   Dau   S   Female   W   19   AL   At Home   AL   AL   <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_11761040_4&frompage=5">Rufus HOWELL</A>   Son   S   Male   W   13   AL   Laborer On Farm   AL   AL   <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_11761040_5&frompage=5">Victora HOWELL</A>   Dau   S   Female   W   13   AL   At Home   AL   AL   <A HREF="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/individual_record.asp?INDI_CODE=1880US_11761040_6&frompage=5">James W. HOWELL</A>   Son   S   Male   W   8   AL      AL   AL  All the children show that both parents were born in Alabama.