Recording spelling variations

[Kathy]

On one line of my research, I have the name McFie, my GG Grandmother, her siblings were all spelt McFee.

I have found along the way, several of her children and grand children with the middle name McFee.

My GGG Grandfather’s birth and marriage is recorded as McFie, on the death record of his spouse he is recorded as McPhie.

I realize that the spelling is what the register thinks it should sounds like, as most of these entries are in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.

I have been recording the finds in whatever spelling I find, is this the correct way to record the entry? or should I be recording them all in the oldest find which is McFie in the marriage 1791, and just putting a note on individual entries.

Kathy

[kathyc]

Kathy,

I'll be interested to hear what the experts have to say about this.

In my tree, I've picked one spelling for each surname so that I can easily search for people in my own research without having to remember all the variations, but I have no idea what the accepted correct way of doing it is.

Kathy

[Chris Paton]

I have been recording the finds in whatever spelling I find, is this the correct way to record the entry?

Absolutely, I would say you are doing the right thing. There is no correct way to spell a surname, just the forms that are most commonly viewed to be correct. These tend to be more standardised today, but as you've found, they can vary wildly in days of yore, depending on how the person writing the notes thought the name should be spelt!

It's important to keep the original citations as they are found - for example, the different spellings sometimes reflect how the names were once pronounced. In many 18th C records of my Rogers line, the name is actually spelt as Rogie or Rodgie, which reflects the local Perthshire pronunciation for the surname at that time.

I guess the real problem is when you find several spelling for the same individual in different records - in such a case, I would go for the most commonly used when entering it into a tree, but would individually cite each record in the notes with the actual spelling as found.

Chris

[Russell]

Hi Kathy(X2) or should it be Cathays ?

Where I have a limited number of variants which differ from one record to the next I usually record it as "Reside or Raeside" which shows up clearly in my Family Tree Maker programme list of names. Any more than that wouldn't show up as there is a limit to the space available for names.
With a name like Lapraik where I have 25 or 26 variants I have chosen the commonest to represent the family line then make a note in the persons file on where each variant was found. The copies of the various document entries can then speak for themselves.
Although there are guidelines for recording our genealogical heritage they are just that ! guidelines. How you prefer to keep your own records will depend on your approach. Some people want to stick as far as possible to the direct descent approach. Others want to look at whole families within the context of the time frame they lived in so their data will be much broader and might record names exactly as they have been recorded. This method might require a more graphic tree so that name changes can be followed. My feeling is - suit yourself. It's your hobby/passion/addiction so be like Sinatra and 'Do it my(your) way'

Russell

[Kathy]

Thanks for the replies.

I use Family Tree Maker, and it allows me to add a child with surname McFee, to parents with the surname McFie, so that is not a problem.

I suppose I am also trying a bit of lateral thinking, if I add my tree to sites like Genesreunited, and my McFie’s are all spelt McFie and not the various spellings, I may miss out on just the contact that can progress me further.

Also, for reference, I make notes of where I find the differences and attach the BDM find as a pic in the scrapbook of the individual.

Kathy

[Russell]

Hi Kathy

I found with Genes Re-united that when I entered the variant names I ended up with a huge list of names but most of the contacts I made were from the more usual spellings.
By the time most people get back to the early 1800's and even earlier, when the spelling was interesting, they have gained enough experience to start sorting out the spelling possibilities.
I have made contact with many people who started out using Genes but have 'graduated' onto something more discerning with more opportunities to append details.

Russell

[Kathy]

Hi Russell

I have reached the stage with GR that I am ready to move on, but may as well use up my remaining membership, although I no longer add any new names.

My tree on GR, I no longer open, after being bitten a couple of times with people just adding my info to their tree, to what advantage, I cant say, probably just to increase their tree numbers.

In defense of GR, in the early days when I was floundering about, I did pick up a few distant contacts, and the odd point in the right direction. I had a real win, when one member sent the marriage pic of my great Aunt, that member was following the McFee line.

Quote: I have made contact with many people who started out using Genes but have 'graduated' onto something more discerning with more opportunities to append details.

Can you recommend where to ‘graduate’ too?

Kathy

[Miss Poohs]

Very interesting - I have a few variations going on, the main one being, Bonnar, which on occasion has driven me to distraction.

I think alot of the various spellings come from the local dialect - I have been known, on occasion to talk to my 'puter in a funny accent just to get the jist of things.

[Russell]

Hi Kathy

Can you recommend where to ‘graduate’ too?

I reckon you already have graduated

When you reach a point where you start questioning styles, methods, programmes and so on, you are fully fledged as a family tree hunter (The award ceremony will take place on....... )

It's a constant learning process but by the time you have a programme you are comfortable with and know where to find the main data sources, can read some of the difficult writing from the early 1800's and before - you are in a position where you can give worthwhile guidance to folks new to genealogy. That is where TS comes in. You start out taking information, soaking it up like a bit of blotting paper, and end up guiding and advising and wonder how you got to that stage

Just realised that not everyone remembers blotting paper, and what it was used for. Must be getting ancient.

Russell

[Russell]

Hi Miss Poohs

I have been known, on occasion to talk to my 'puter in a funny accent just to get the jist of things.

Same thing goes on in my house the only difference is I'm from the Lothians and my wife is from Glasgow so some of the conversation and mutterings directed at the computer are hilarious
Scary thing is that some of my pronounciations from Ormiston are different from those used in Edinburgh and widely different from Glasgow.

Russell