Hi, Dennis and Joyce, How I agree with Dennis, particularly if he is talking about the 1881 Census Transcript on CD or fiche. If you find something on this version of the Census with which you are unhappy, then you must try to see a film of the original census books, NOT the transcript. The transcript was done by volunteers within the last 15 years, the films may be faint, handwriting has changed, and some of the names, place names and terms will be uncommon. Remember YOU are the expert on your family, rather than the enumerator or the transcriber. In the transcript, I have seen a lady over 80 years old described as an 'accountant', when it should have been an 'annuitant' another name for a pensioner, but no longer in use. Similarly, I have seen a place of birth transcribed as Bingley, a town in Yorkshire, when it should have been 'Ringley' a place no more than a mile from the census place. In both cases, the style of handwriting made reading today more difficult. Fancy capital letters can be very awkward. It is so easy to confuse STOTT and HOLT, and so on. Having said all that, the transcript is an absolute must for any seeking relatives in the UK who were alive in 1881, and the latest search engine helps use all sorts of ways to find them. However, Joyce's problem is not about mis-transcription, but changing forms of names. In the late 1800s the commonest form of the name she is interested in was ELLEN. As people sought to 'improve' their image it became HELEN. My sister in the 1940s, when addressed as Ellen, would say 'My name is HELEN, with a huh'. As well as the 'standard' form you will find all sorts of variants, Elen, Hellen, Ellie, Nellie, Tellie (from Aunt Ellie), Eleanor (in many spellings), and so on. I am currently looking for information on someone recorded in the Census as LIZIE, and elsewhere as ELSIE, I will not be surprised to find her somewhere as ELIZABETH, when someone has given her the 'full' name. Other variants of this name Elspeth, Betsy, Bess, Eliza, Lisbeth. I think the present Queen was known as a child as Lillabet. The other problem occurs with people with two given names, if they change the one they are known by. A 'John Michael' may be recorded on one Census as 'John, and on the next as 'Michael'. As I said, if you are confused by the Transcript, check the original. If the name is somewhat different but the family match, use your family knowledge and the knowledge of the names of the people you know to decide for yourself. If you are still not sure, look for other sources to help, birth or marriage certificate, church records, etc. Hope this helps Jim Lancaster (Bury, LAN, ENG)