Searching for your ancestors in census records and other official documents can be frustrating. It’s not uncommon to come to a dead end or to be confused by records that don’t exactly match the relative you’re researching. Spelling variations, including mistakes and transcription errors, are common amongst older documents. It’s always a good idea to try alternative spellings, as you might just uncover documents you thought were lost.
Spelling mistakes and incorrect names in official documents occur for a variety of reasons, from translation errors to phonetic spellings and name changes after immigrating. At MyHeritage, our research tools make it easy to search for alternative spellings and filter your results with additional information, such as year of birth. In this article, we’re sharing the reasons to use alternative spellings when searching vital records and why spelling variations are more common than you think.
Key takeaways about alternative spellings in genealogy records
- Spelling inconsistencies are commonly found in historical records due to language challenges, illegible handwriting, and clerical errors.
- You can use cultural variations of names and phonetic spellings to search for potential relatives.
- Your ancestors may have changed the spelling of their surname after getting married or immigrating to a new country.
- Alternative spellings can unlock entire sections of your family tree that you may otherwise overlook.
Why spelling variations are common in vital records
Surnames may sometimes be spelled incorrectly or change over time, which may make it difficult to trace your ancestors through vital records. It’s worth researching the history of surnames, especially if you’re working several generations back when patronymic and locational surnames were more common.
Often, there can be a story behind why the spelling of a name is changed, especially if your relative had a surname with an unfortunate meaning. However, it’s usually a simple mistake or a contextual circumstance that leads to the change in spelling.
Early census records were completed by hand, with many record keepers relying on phonetic spellings for names they weren’t familiar with. Clerical mistakes could also happen, and you’re likely to come across them when searching through church records.
Similarly, if you’re tracing your family tree through multiple countries, it’s possible your family previously went by the native spelling of their surname. For example, “Schmidt” is the German spelling of “Smith.” Immigration often led families to adopt a new spelling of their surname to better assimilate with society.
How to search for potential relatives using alternative spellings
It’s easy to search for alternative spellings on MyHeritage using our research tools and matches. MyHeritage’s smart search should already identify alternative spellings, name variants, and even the same name written in a different language — for example, if you search for an “Alex,” MyHeritage will find records for “Alexander” spelled in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, or Cyrillic letters as well as “Alejandro,” “Alexei,” and even “Sasha.”
Here’s a step-by-step guide for using alternative spellings to find potential relatives on search engines that don’t have this feature:
Step 1: Create a log of all potential variations
Some names have more variations than others. Whether you’re searching for first names or surnames, it’s worth starting by creating a log of all potential variations.
You may have come across some already in other genealogy documents or know about them from oral histories, especially if your family was commonly known by a nickname. This log will make it easier to keep track of which spelling alternatives you’ve already searched for.
Step 2: Consider common linguistic substitutions
Spelling variations often happen due to linguistic reasons. For example, you can’t hear the difference between “Catherine” and “Katherine.” As a result, it’s easy for these names to be spelled differently, especially in handwritten records. Similarly, silent letters can also result in name variations, such as “Thompson” and “Tomson.” MyHeritage’s Soundex search feature does identify names that sound the same with alternate spellings.
Step 3: Conduct a “wildcard” search
If you’re struggling to think of potential variants, using a wildcard search can help fill in the blanks. All you have to do is replace letters in a name with an asterisk or question mark.
A question mark replaces one character, while an asterisk can replace multiple characters. For example, you can search for Sm*th to generate results for Smith, Smithe, and Smyth.
Again, when searching on MyHeritage, you shouldn’t need to do this — MyHeritage’s technology will identify results for Smithe, Smyth, and Schmidt even if you enter Smith.
Step 4: Translate potential variants into other languages
If you’re tracing your family tree through another country, search for the native spelling of first names and surnames. It’s common for names to have been anglicized or translated when an individual immigrated to an English-speaking country.
Step 5: Keep a record of the results from each variation
Don’t lose track of the alternative spellings you’ve already tried. Keep your log up to date and make a note of potential relatives you might have found using certain spelling variations.
Access millions of vital records and trace your family roots with MyHeritage
You’ll naturally face challenges when researching your family tree, with spelling variations being one of the most common. Using alternative spellings has the potential to unlock missing aspects of your family tree and identify new relatives.
Tracing your family tree through vital records and official documents can help you feel more connected to your heritage and ancestors. Sign up for a free trial today and start using alternative spellings to help find your relatives in genealogy records.
Ready to unlock hidden branches of your family tree? Sign up for a free trial on MyHeritage and explore millions of digitized records — with support for alternative spellings and historical name variations.
FAQ about Alternative Spellings in Genealogy Records
What spelling variation should I try first?
Start by searching for known name variations that you might already be aware of, either culturally or from your family’s oral history. For first names, it’s useful to try common alternative spellings, such as “Rebecca” and “Rebekkah.”
Are spelling variations common in all cultures?
You can find spelling variations in vital records across all cultures where phonetic writing is used. It’s important to consider the naming conventions of a specific country and whether your family’s surname would have been considered popular. Some surnames naturally have several variations and are more likely to be misspelled as a result.
Are name changes always intentional, or can they be accidental?
Context is important when considering potential name changes. While some can be intentional, often due to immigration or personal reasons, many spelling mistakes in official records are accidental and caused by a third party.
What role do immigration officers and census takers play in name variations?
Immigration officers and census takers would record the information of hundreds of individuals every day. Uncommon surnames would often be spelled phonetically, and illegible handwriting might cause a name to be transcribed incorrectly.
Why would an ancestor’s name be spelled differently in different records?
It’s always important to consider the context of the vital records you’re searching for. You might find that a relative’s name is only spelled incorrectly in a small number of records, which may be caused by a mistake on the part of the record taker and not your relative themselves.
