Thanks for the comments, Anne. A worse case! I'm aware of a couple of other, similarly fickle, Stoner lines. No doubt there is an explanation but we just don't know what it is, and whether we'd consider it logical! Thanks, Alan Anne Peat wrote on 05/03/2012 17:44: > There may not be any logical explanation Alan. > My maternal great-grandfather appears in certificates and some censuses as either SHERIDAN or SHERRINGTON ( I can understand that, as he and his wives (2) were illiterate, but also in some censuses as HARRIS as does his father. > > We've never found out why. > > Anne > On 5 Mar 2012, at 17:26, [email protected] wrote: > >> The IGI has a marriage in West Farleigh 13/2/1821 between William >> STAPELS and Alice SMITH. >> >> >> Parents William and Alice are STAPLES in censuses and their deaths in >> 1865 and 1876. >> Their family is to be found as either STAPLES or STONER without obvious >> pattern. >> >> For example James marries and dies as STONER. In 1841 and 1851 (with >> his parents) he is STAPLES, and again in 1871 and 1901. In 1861, 1881, >> and 1891 he is STONER. I believe William junior's tombstone shows both >> names. >> >> My question is whether anyone knows this family and/or can suggest the >> reason for the two name approach. Why would William STAPELS and Alice >> SMITH become STONER for baptisms. >> Alan Stoner