Spelling and Transcription
Common Transcription Errors
The following letters or letter sequences are sometimes mis- transcribed:
- “S” and “L”, which are very similar in older handwriting
- “H” and “K”
- “ss” sometimes appears as an “ff” in older handwriting
- “n” and “r” at the end of names
- “m” and “n”
- “in” and “en” at the end of names
- “e” and “i”
- “o”, “a”, and “u”
- “t” and “l”
Spelling Variations
Be flexible when looking for names of ancestors. Remember that names were often written incorrectly or at least not as researchers today expect. You may still have a match if:
- he name is spelled differently than you expect
- a nickname is used (check other facts)
- the name sounds similar, but is wrong (remember accents)
- the name visually appears to be a similar name
- if other members of the household are correct
Other spelling variations to look for:
- Look for the double or single letters in (E.g. Peele & Peelle)
- Look for known alternate spellings
- Look for names that sound similar (E.g. Winnie & Minnie)
- Check for nicknames (or possible nicknames)
- Check for use of middle name
- Check for use of first or first and middle initial
- Don’t discount based on ordering of first and middle names
- Name sometimes changed when the family moved, particularly when they moved to the USA
- If living with another family, that family’s last name may be used inadvertently.
Abbreviations:
- “Chas” = Charles
- “Geo” = George
- “Jas” = James
- “Jn” = John
- “Tho” = Thomas
- “Wm” = William
Interpreting Handwriting
Blog on interpreting handwriting and shorthand in old documents: https://ncarchives.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/what-does-that-say-series-pt-i/?platform=hootsuite