Mack or Mark

[ConnieMack]

Well, I haven't yet created the bridge from America to Scotland but I'm hoping those of you who are much more knowledgeable of the Scottish language, accent and various dialects might help with a current mystery I've been pondering. Vital record surnames were written phonetically, according to the way the person said their name and the way the scribe heard the name. Most of the time it was recorded as Mack. But there is also Mak, Macke, Mack, (maybe Moch), Macks, Mark and Marks. The later two are really interesting and what I'd like input on. From what I've read, m, n and er are often ommited or dropped. But here we have it inserted. The recorder must have hear the r. But, if I'm hearing and understanding correctly, often a Scot will tap the r or it will be silent. Perhaps this is different in different parts of the country, according to dialect. But I would assume as the generations went on, those traces of home in the voice and language would fade. Then, I found the signature of one family member, Solomon Mack, a century after John Mack immigrated, and it almost looks like more than just MACK written in the first one. If I can't figure out what the name really was I can't ever hope to trace it back to the mother land. This is especially true if it is Marks, because I think that surname would be more likely connected to England than Scotland. The first image is from 1851 and the other from 1883, same person. Notice his seal indicating he is the 3rd with the name Solomon in his immediate family. I thought that was interesting. Thanks for any insight.

Solomon III signature 1851.jpg

Solomon III signature 1883.jpg

[AnneM]

Hi Connie

They both look like Mack to me. To my knowledge and ear Scots rarely insert an r when there is not one already. However I suppose someone with a broad, back 'a' could, at a pinch, sound as though they were saying Mark. Where I come from initially, they would be unlikely to be mixed up as west coasters tend to have a narrow 'a' sound formed in the front of the mouth, almost like an 'e'. However, in some parts of Scotland, in some central regions and to some extent in Angus the 'a' is pronounced more broadly and from the back of the mouth. I'm sure there is someone on here who can put this much better.

Anne

[ConnieMack]

Thank you Anne. I think I understand what you mean. The narrow a would be like Meck and the broad a would open the throat like aw, then as it was narrowed to form the k sound, might be mistaken for an r. Is that right? The first Mack signature looks like at least an extra letter added, a u or r with the a not being clear, to me. Also the k is broken in pieces. but the 2nd signature is clearly Mack. Thanks again.

[SarahND]

Hi Connie and Anne,
The 'r' would only be inserted if the hearer was a speaker of a so-called "r-less" dialect, e.g. much of England and some New England (say, Boston). To their ears, it could sound as if there were an 'r' in there that was simply not pronounced, since they wouldn't pronounce it themselves. Hence, the curious English spelling of "erm" for what I would write "um" as a hesitation noise... no 'r' in the sound in my dialect!

I think your man is Mack.

Best wishes,
Sarah

[ConnieMack]

Thank you, Sarah. I assumed so, especially since the 2nd signature is so clearly Mack. Now if I could just figure out where to look for him in Scotland. They don't seem to follow the naming custom. Some name the first son after themselves, some the 2nd son or none at all. So, I'm left without name clues.

Thanks again.