Agreed. There might be any number of a handful of reasons for variation in spelling of names. Sometimes the spelling of a name also had to do with where the borders were drawn in any particular year, in which case, the name might spelled in the primary language of the occupying country. ~Jodi ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janet Kozlay" <kozlay@comcast.net> To: <HUNGARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 7:49 PM Subject: RE: [HUNGARY-L] writing > This was not just a matter of literacy. The exact spelling of a surname was > not standardized, as long as it approximated the pronunciation. An > individual, even an educated one, might spell his name more than one way. I > have several examples of this as late as the mid-19th century. That is why > it is futile for people to search for the "correct" spelling of their > surname. > > Janet