I can't tell you how many times my left eye became twitchy when I would talk to people about the spelling of their family names. First names, Middle names, Surnames --- don't get me started.
Okay... too late. Listen. Let's stop putting modern day issues on our past ancestors. Okay? Spelling was not a big deal 100 years ago. This is a modern issue. If someone could not read or write, they often didn't need to know how to spell their own name, not to mention tell someone else how to spell it, or correct it if someone else spelled it wrong. Just because someone somewhere has given someone a written middle name, if there is no document that shows a middle name, they may not have even had one. If they did and never used it, I'd be happy enough to just know that they had a name at all. Surnames - If someone's last name is misspelled somewhere, it doesn't mean it wasn't your family. It just means someone couldn't read or write, or they neglected to ask how to spell it because they were just sure enough in their own skills to spell correctly. The next person who says out loud to you, "That's not my kin because we never spelled our name that way." Just go ahead and walk away now. No matter what you say, they won't listen to you. But if you're that person who swore it was never spelled that way, please listen just a little bit and open up your mind. You'd be surprised how quickly that brick wall might just fall.
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AuthorMichele is an obsessed mother of 4 residing in North Alabama. Hobbies include long walks in the woods, on the beach and in strange cemeteries and libraries. Genealogy friends need only apply. Categories
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