This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: liddell, lydel, liddle, liddel Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/YQw.2ACEB/174.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Gary! You certainly are taking this a lot further than I ever did when I was REALLY active. Wow, what a list, and you are absolutely correct about the various reasons for the variant spellings. This may seem rude to those with variant spelling but I believe that OUR direct ancestors were consistent in their spellings simply because they were landed and probably fairly wealthy and certaily educated. That, of course, might not hold true for some of their descendants. But, thanks for keeping me posted. --I have had very little response to the DNA proposal, for your information. Jim