This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: CelesteHolly51 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.lawson/1279.2.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Spelling at that time was very fluid - words had no standardized spellings. Many people had little education and did not spell or read well. Also, there is still today no standardization of name spelling - look at the way people spell Debbie/Debbby/Debi, etc. I have seen one person in a family spell a name one way in an old Bible record and another one spell it another way in the same record! The "r" ending was due to regional accents - like people in MA still saying "Cuber" instead of Cuba. Amanda was often written Amander on census records. Sinda or Cinda - either way they were spelling Cinderella. Celeste 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.