This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: hubherby Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.saintlawrence/16476.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My surname is (now) "Nichols" The books "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution has almost 400 entries for various spellings of Nichols. (some of these are multiple entries for the same man.) The various spellings include: Nicals, Nicchols, Nicclols, Nichal, Nichalls, Nichals, Nichcols, Nichels, Nichils, Nichoals, Nichol, Nichoolds Nicholes, Nicholls, Nichols, Nickalls, Nickals, Nickel, Nickells, Nickels. By far the most common spelling is "Nichols". The second most common spelling was "Nickels". My gg-grandfather (and my namesake) Herbert J Nichols is spelled in various censuses between 1830 & 1880 Herbert J Nichols J Herbet Nicholas Herbert Nichols Herbert Nickels In America spelling of surnames did not really become "standardized" until the latter half of the 19th century. And even after that one can find (by now permanent) spelling variations in descendants of the same man. Herb Nichols ps When I search for my surname in censuses I use the keystrokes "nic*s". And even this "search string" doesn't find them all. c.f. Nicol Nickol Nikel Nickel etc 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.