Gord, thanks for a wonderful collection of information on the Shaffer family name. My family history represents one bit of anecdotal information I can add to your discussion. The evolution of my family name, so far as we've been able to determine is Shaver -> Shafer -> Shaffer, consistant with your one letter at a time change pattern. We believe the original American Shaver in our line to have been of German heritage and suspect that the spelling "Shaver" was an Americanization of the German name. We've not yet confirmed the name and immigration details of our earliest American ancestor. We know George Shaver was in Mifflin Co. PA before the Revolutionary War. He had at least 6 children with his wife Margaret, including Joseph Shaver, b. bef. 1780. Joseph's son Alexander Robison Shafer, b. 1/20/1797 is the first to show the Shafer spelling. We don't know if it was Joseph or his some Alexander who actually changed the spelling, nor do we know why either of the changes were made. Alexander Robison Shaffer's son Alexander Robert Shafer/Shaffer was born 8/14/1840 with the name (we believe) Shafer but died in Perry Co. Ohio on 11/26/1850 with the name Shaffer. We've been Shaffers since then. For those interested in the early PA Shaver/Shafer/Shaffers, here is an abstract of George Shaver's will: SHAVER, George, Milford Twp., w. 3/20/1799, p. 8/11/1803, wife Margaret, son Joseph, daughers Hannah, Ann wife of Abner Beale, Catherine wife of Samuel Keever, Christiana wife of Thomas Hamlin, Betsy wife of William Beale Jr., grandchildren, John, Betsy, Samuel Stigers all children of Rudolph Stigers, Exec. Samuel Keever, & William Beale Jr. (Will Book 1) Thanks again, Gord! Steve Shaffer