The process of tracing a family tree can be a complicated and confusing task which can be made even more difficult by spelling variations in the surname. We tend to believe that we can follow a surname back hundreds of years to the first holder of the name, where each successive generation spells its surname in exactly the same way wherever it is recorded. This idea ends however, when we are confronted with the facts of genealogical research. Surnames, for the most part, have developed during the past eight hundred years and have been influenced by many factors.

 

Until the mid 18th century, English spelling was fluid and had no set form*. The spelling of a surname could therefore vary and was dependent upon the writer of the document, these days spelling is either right or wrong. It is also worth noting that literacy was not widespread before the late 19th century and an illiterate person would not have been able to tell if their surname was spelt correctly or not.

 

Tracing one’s ancestors back to the point where they first acquired a surname can be challenging, as surname spelling and pronunciation may have changed over the intervening centuries, making it possible that one’s present surname is not the same as that given to an ancestor.

 

Spelling variations of the original name or even a completely different surname may have occurred for the following reasons:

 

Marriage: - When a woman marries, she generally adopts her husband's name, giving up her maiden name. This is probably the biggest reason for a name change.

 

Accidental Changes: - These can occur when a name is entered on official documents. Clerks, census enumerators, clergymen or other officials, having misheard and/or misspelt the name. Similarities between sounds of letters lead to mistakes and it's not uncommon to find P and B confused F and V, DD and TH, or even Z with C or S.

 

Literacy: - Ancestors who couldn't read and write would not know how their names were spelt, only how to pronounce them. Therefore, when they gave their names to an official, that person wrote the name in the way that sounded correct to him.

 

Simplification: – Migrants whether within a country or to new country, could find that their name was difficult for others to spell or pronounce. They would therefore, simplify the spelling or alter their names to relate them more closely to the language and pronunciations of their new location.

 

Pronunciation: - Letters and syllables within a surname can be confused due to verbal mispronunciation or heavy accents.

 

Desire to break with the Past: - Migration accompanied by a change of name could be prompted by a desire to break with or escape the past.

 

Silent Letters: - Letters such as 'E' and 'Y' can come and go from the spelling of a surname.

 

Letter Transpositions: - Copied records and databases are prone to these spelling errors. Letter transpositions can still create a recognizable surname

 

Transcription: - These errors should be looked for in any transcribed records and databases, including dropped letters and in modern records adjacent letters on the keyboard. The more a record has been transcribed the more errors it is likely to have.

     

An interesting example of how the spelling of a surname has varied within a localised area is shown in the Halifax Parish Registers, Marriages 1538 – 1593.

 

 

 

In the table below I have shown, within the limits of my current knowledge, where each “Mallinson” variant originated and then compared these to the range of names given in the 1881 Census.

 

References:

 

^{*Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), 40,000 entries, illustrative quotations, model for OED}

 

^{(1) (3) & (11). Inquests, Extents, and Feudal Aids, 1313-1335. Abstracts of Lancashire Inquests Post Mortem and Ad Quod Damnum, Feudal Aids, Rentals and Extents: Wavertree, Slyne, Great Crosby.}

^{(2) & (19). Parish Registers of Burnsall, St. Mary's Chapel Baptisms 1567-1812.}

^{(4). Parish Registers of Hartshead, Baptisms 1654-1812.}

^{(5). Chester Wills and Inventories, Court of Probate, 1660 - 1680. List of the Wills Now Preserved in the Probate Court, Chester, From the Year 1660 to 1680 Inclusive.}

^{(6) (12) (28) & (38). The History of the Mallinson Family, G. Redmonds.}

^{(7) (8) (9) & (26). Parish Registers of Almondbury 1557-1598 Volume 1 Part 1 1581/82, Baptisms.}

^{(10). Parish Registers of All Saints Rotherham, Deaths 1587.}

^{(13). Penwortham – Nottinghamshire Coroners’ Inquests, 1485 – 1558}

^{(14). The Norris Deeds: (d) Grants by Rob. Malleson and his son. Ad. to Alan le Norreys 1328 - 1349.}

^{(15). Parish Registers of St Nicholas Thorne, Deaths 1566.}

^{(16). Lancashire Record Office: Farington of Worden, Leyland.}

^{(17). Calendar of Assize Rolls, 1284 - 1363.}

^{(18). Parish Registers of Brodsworth 1538 – 1813, Marriages.}

^{(20). Todmorden (St. Mary) - Parish Register, 1781 - 1812 Burials.}

^{(21). East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Records Service: Rawcliffe - ref. DDCL/2311-2478.}

^{(22). Parish Registers of Winwick, Baptisms, 1563 - 1620; Marriages and Burials, 1600-1620.}

^{(23) & (25). Parish Registers of Wath upon Dearne, Baptisms 1598 - 1778.}

^{(24) & (42). The History of Brighouse, Rastrick & Hipperholme by J.Horsfall Turner.}

^{(27). Parish Registers of Turton 1720 - 1812, and Hambleton.}

^{(29). Parish Registers of Snaith, Baptisms and Marriages Corrigenda.}

^{(30). Parish Registers of Birstall, Christenings 1636-1687.}

^{(31). Parish Registers of Maltby, 1597 - 1812 Baptisms.}

^{(32). Parish Registers of Kippax, 1539 - 1812 Marriages.}

^{(33). Wills in the York Registry: Yorkshire Archaeological Record Series.}

^{(34). Parish Registers of Broughton-in-Furness (Kirksby Ireleth), Baptisms 1634 – 1812.}

^{(35). Parish Registers of Linton-In-Craven, Baptisms 1562 – 1812.}

^{(36). Calendar of Noris deads, 12th to 15th century 3. Hale, Halewood and Halebank. Perquisites of the Court of Cliderhou.}

^{(37). The Extent (or Survey) of the Graveships of Rastrick, Hipperholme and Sowerby, 1309.}

^{(39). Calendar of Noris deads, 12th to 15th century 3. Hale, Halewood and Halebank.}

^{(40) (41) & (43). Halifax Parish Registers, Marriages 1538 – 1593.}