I have 15 spelling variations of Geoghegan in one branch of my family from 1806 to 1882 and after that only 11. On 4 census from 1871 to 1901 there are 8 differences Certificates are a nightmare... Like the man once said. "Signing with a cross doesn't make them religious" and.............. to ignore a spelling as 'not yours' will lengthen your search by years. As it did mine! Geoghegan on the 1881 census was entered as Gaggen and proved to be all my family and I was able to obtain certificate after being stuck for three long years Josi ------------------------------------- Volume 14 of my Newsletter is back on www.btinternet.com/~finty/ See if you can identify the mystery guests ------------------------------------------