Hi Listers; I too have been scanning the replies for the spelling differences and possible 'explanations' for the differences. My Aunt has always been adamant that 'ours' were KellEy and the others weren't related. This has 'proven' true for the most part, though as we all have experienced census takers and their lack of education and 'our' lack of a spelling standard until this century, I've always watched for the other data to 'prove' my families (ie: names,birth date/ages,locations, etc.). Another branch of my family had their probable German name anglizied when they moved from Pa into Va around 1800. We still haven't found the true immigrant spelling of this family but again around 1850 it seems two sons 'chose' to spell the name RIherd and my branch (son) chose to spell his line with a RYherd variation (I won't go into the various census spellings here). (Speculation has another line may have chosen to spell it RICHARD and thus confuse it with an English lineage.) This is all part of our Interesting Genealogical Research and it's even More interesting when you/I've gotten into the Patronmic surname lines of my Dutch ancestry in New York in the 1600's...each child could chose a different abcestor's 1st name for their surname...a son, whose father was Andries, may chose James Martinson For a grandfather) and another son may chose John Johnson (for another grandfather) and the girls may be Jane Johnsdatter or Mattinsdatter or even Mary Adriesdatter.......all siblings! Happy Hunting and Learning!!! 8-) Carolyn