This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/IM0.2ACEB/542.2 Message Board Post: Hello Cousins, The reason for name spelling changes is mostly due to clerks spelling the name the way it sounded when an ancestor said their names, which most didn't read nor write. Clerks did the best they could. Cousin Robin