First and last names of your ancestor will be spelled differently, sometimes different ways in the same document. There is more to “matching” people than the spelling of their first and last name. Make certain you have valid reason to believe people appearing in different records are the same person.
And remember–the name is usually considered the “same” if the pronunciations are the same. That missing “e” may irritate you, but it doesn’t mean it’s an entirely different person.
3 Responses
When searching a census a few years ago, I happened to see a person named Curby which I believe should have been Kirby. This was not in my family at all, but something that I have thought about many times since and wonder if anyone searching for this person would ever find them.
You know how if someone came to your door and asked – who lives here? You might answer “The Neills.” Ah, yes, that “S” added to one of my grands last name in a census document set me back days and days to find. It didn’t come up in a variant spelling list. Of course the feeling of “eureka, at last!” can’t be beat. Lol
I found a marriage record (bond, license, & return on a single document) for a couple where the bride’s name was given as her married name on the bond portion, and her maiden name on the license and return sections. Not a big deal since I recognized the discrepancy as a probable mistake on the part of the clerk, but interesting nonetheless.