Thank you to everyone who wrote about the female names Elizabeth and Isabel or Isabella. I had not realized that they were connected. Alejandro, your example of Queen Isabella also being Elizabeth the Catholic gives historic validity to this duality. My ancestor was Isabel Guilchrist on her baptism record on 2 June 1776, Isobella Gilchrist on her marriage record on 31 December 1795 when she wed Thomas Ebrey, and then primarily Isabella but sometimes Eliz. on her children's baptism records. Ellie, I assume it was the vicar or curate recording her name when she was born, married and when her children were baptized. I appears that the church official in several cases chose to use the English version Elizabeth or Eliz or Elizth for the records rather than Isabel or Isabella. Karen, it is really helpful to know of another woman in English who was listed alternatively as Isabelle and Elizabeth. A real example of what I am seeing. I also found this helpful source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel that gives variations of these names in different languages. Again thank you! Barbara -------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:47:38 -0000 From: "Ellie Thomas" <ellie.thomas@ntlworld.com> Subject: Re: [ENG-SHROP] Elizabeth and Isobella in Shropshire To: <eng-shropshire-plus@rootsweb.com> Cc: barbara_petura@yahoo.com Hi Barbara, This website gives variants on first names and says that Isobel is a variant of Elizabeth (seems to be a very useful site). http://www.whatsinaname.net/php/search.php?action=search28&search_name=elizabeth If you click on the Isobel link on this page you get all the variant spellings of Isobel that you've found. Did Isobel sign herself as Elizabeth, or is it the vicar/curate writing the name? I have instances of clergymen 'translating' names in the parish registers, either into Latin - Carolus for Charles, or into English - Evan Lewis in a Welsh register became John Lewis for a while until a new curate appeared, and then I was back to Evan again; fortunately for me he was married to Lowry and I could track the baptisms through her name. Regards, Ellie -o0o- Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:52:00 -0400 From: Carolyn Parker <ca.parker@comcast.net> Subject: Re: [ENG-SHROP] Elizabeth and Isobella in Shropshire To: eng-shropshire-plus@rootsweb.com Re: Isabella - I have an ancestor who went be "Belle" and "Bella" as well! -o0o- Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:32:14 +1100 From: Karen Hodges <rowantreek@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [ENG-SHROP] Women with two given names in Shropshire To: eng-shropshire-plus@rootsweb.com Hi I have a sister to an ancestor in Lancashire during the mid to late >1800's who is listed alternatively as Isabelle and Elizabeth. I think the two names were used like Mary is to Maria, meaning the same person. Karen -o0o- Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:23:17 EDT From: Egrdn@aol.com Subject: [ENG-SHROP] Isabella and Elizabeth To: eng-shropshire-plus@rootsweb.com For what it is worth, from Wikipedia  at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella  "Isabella is  a variant of Elizabeth, a feminine given name.". Eleanor Gordon  -o0o- ------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:49:51 EDT From: AMilb36287@aol.com Subject: Re: [ENG-SHROP] Isabella and Elizabeth To: eng-shropshire-plus@rootsweb.com The Spanish for Elizabeth is Isabel. The Queen of Castile  and Columbus patron was "Isabel la Cat?lica" (Elizabeth the Catholic), but  in English you'll usually see her called Isabella. Saludos, Alejandro Milberg Boston, Mass. -o0o-