Dear Joe and Others, I have to believe that at least part of the name changes were just spelling mistakes caused by poor diction or poor spelling. I have been researching Moses Medlock who was born in SC and moved to AL. I have found him listed variously as Midlock, Madlock and Medlock and have proof that it is the same man. His descendants who are my ancestors retained the Medlock spelling. There may have been some other cause, but I think a lot of it was just due to census takers and others not understanding the name. Just my two cents, Emma in NM