How many ways can you spell a surname?

Are you struggling to find information on your ancestors because of spelling variations in their names? Don't worry, you're not alone! Keeping track of different name variations is crucial when researching your family history. Take the Zealey family from Kent, for instance.

So far, documents have been found under 24 different spellings of their surname!

Zealey    Zealley    Zeeley    Zeelly     Sealey    Sealley

Sealy     Zellie    Zelie    Tealy    Teally\    Tealley

Tealey    Jealy    Jealey    Jealley    Jeally    Zelly

Zealie    Zeallie    Zellie    Ziely    Zielley    Zieley

It's important to remember that errors can occur at various stages when creating indexes for official documents. Let's say you're searching for a death certificate. The information is typically given by a living relative, written down by a doctor, transferred by someone onto an official death certificate, logged into a register, and then often transcribed into an index. That's at least five people who handle the information, and the first person may not have accurate information to begin with.

Most people would rely on information from their parents regarding their year and location of birth, but that information can often be incorrect. This is why keeping track of the different name variations you find in documents is so important. By logging these variations, you can easily refer to them when searching for information.

It's also important to remember that there are ways to search for information using symbols. For example, if you're looking for all surnames beginning with "Z," you can search for "Z*" in an index, and all surnames starting with "Z" will appear.

Where and how you keep track of the name variations is an individual decision, try an excel spreadsheet, or keep it in an "event" called AKA (also known as) on your computer genealogy software, or just keep it on post-it notes! Whatever works for you.

In conclusion, keeping track of name variations is crucial when researching your family history. With errors at every stage of the process, it's important to be thorough and keep an open mind when searching for information. Don't be discouraged by different spellings or incorrect information. Remember It's always a good idea to keep an open mind and try different spellings when searching for information. With the right tools and mindset, you can discover more about your family's past than you ever thought possible.

To read about my Zealey family go to The Zealey Brothers from Sevenoaks.