Most of the time this is because a census taker, or other official spelled the name as they thought it sounded. In my family, I have the Copella's (my family's spelling) Or Copello, or Copelli. My Nulf family is also Nolf, Nulph, and Nolph. Because alot of these people were immigrants with odd accents and most were unable to read or spell, it probably was very difficult for someone hearing the name and then trying to write it to pinpoint an exact spelling. Didn't Daubenspeck turn into Doverspike or something like that? It kills me when you contact a family member with an alternate spelling of a name, and they say "We can't be related-- we don't spell our name that way!" Have fun at your newfound obsession! Sherry Jesberger gljslj@penn.com ---------- > From: Arthur Cravener <engineer@epix.net> > To: PAARMSTR-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [PAARMSTR-L] Surname spelling changes > Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 8:24 PM > > > I'm new to genealogy. > > Something I'm puzzled about is why some change the > spelling of their surnames. For instance, my family > spells their surname both Cravener and Cravenor. > > I have a copy of a Brink family tree produced in > 1984. It lists my ggrandfather as spelling his > name Cravenor. His sons then split, some keeping > the spelling Cravenor, while others change to > Cravener. > > Is there a general consensus or axiom regarding > the reasons this happens? > > TIA > > Arthur Cravener (ex-Kittanningite) > > ps I'd like to thank some of the list members > here for assisting with my family research. > Eliizabeth Caporali in particular who has shown > she truly does Practice Random Acts of Kindness. > > > > > ==== PAARMSTR Mailing List ==== > To contact Patti Caldwell, Listmistress, click below: > mailto:impattic@mediaone.net > remember, "Please practice random acts of kindness"........ > > > > >