This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: cellertson02 Surnames: Fleming, Kyle, Barrow, Howard, Combs, Cozart Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.fleming/2282.1.1.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: When you are researching, you should not pay that much attention at first as to how the name is spelled. Many people in a position of recording information simply couldn't spell, and in other instances, the individual changed it on their own. My great aunt was a perfect example. My great grandfather William Fleming spelled his name with one "m", but his daughter Carol Flemming Poole spelled her name with two. I remember asking my mother about it once, and she didn't know why. Sometimes it is because there is a family issue, other times just plain ineptness from the standpoint of not watching what someone is doing. For example, I have two muster roll documents for William's service in the civil war. One is spelled with one "m", and the other with two "m's", but both are for the exact same company and service. He was only a teenager when he enlisted, and judging from the records, most likely underage to begin with. I'm sure he probably didn't even look at what the enlisting of! ficer wrote down, but even if he had, he probably wouldn't have rocked the boat. Always follow through on the variations of spelling in any name you are researching... Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.