To whom it may concern: One of the more difficult tasks in genealogy research is the fact that the surname you are searching for could be labeled, meaning recorded in so many different spellings. The further back your research takes you, the more difficult this task becomes. Since many people did not know how to write, they also may not have known how to spell their own surname. This meant that the actual spelling of the recorded name could vary without intent. In other words, it was completely up to the person recording the name to spell that person’s name. The person recording information had to go by the way the name sounded if they were not familiar with the spelling of a particular name. It sometimes now is referred to as "transliteration" i.e. writing the word as it sounds. For example, Arney, could have been pronounced, "R-nee" (long E) or "R-ni" (long I) or "R-naa" (long A). Another example is it could have been pronounced differently, "Err-nee" (long E) or "Err-ni" (long I) or "Err-naa" (long A). Now the person hearing this pronunciation would have to try to write it. If they were not familiar with the spelling of any of these and the person whose name it was did not know how to spell it either, you have a problem. Even during the first Censuses, the person recording the person's name had this exact problem. That is why you can see that a name might "evolve" in just a few years or more importantly during documentation of different events, like tax rolls, land purchases, wills, etc. Which means that my Arney surname for example could turn up in a wide variety of forms. [Arney, Arne, Arny, Earney, Earny, Erney, Ernigh, Erni, etc.] Now add to this very problem, people with similar sounding or spelling of the same name. There were “Arneys” from Germany, “Arneys” from Switzerland, “Arneys” from England. Sometimes when people arrived in the New World, they changed their name for their new country and home; this complicates things a little more. Then add in the fact that different families married into each other and you really have a problem separating them all, huh. Add to this fact, that many people, just like today, name their children the same common names. So, you can see what a dilemma it is to research your particular family surname. This is why the spelling of the names can vary, and why it is extremely difficult with this confusion occurs in the same area or town. Good blessings separating your relatives and may we all find out the truth, as best we can. Take care and God bless. Stan Arney Wichita, KS --------------------------------- Yahoo! Photos – Showcase holiday pictures in hardcover Photo Books. You design it and we’ll bind it!