There are usually numerous ways of spelling first and surnames in genealogy records. Some are just abbreviations like Wm for William but could be transcription errors. Especially in times of limited literacy it may be that the person recording events used their personal knowledge (bias) or even just spelt names as they ‘heard’ them. We also have the myth that names were changed at Ellis Island which is dispelled in an article posted by the New York Public Library. Some people chose to change their name but it was a personal option.
Below are just some of the examples come across in my tree research of how surnames may be spelt that either are definitely related or extremely plausible that come from the same root (family group). There are likely to be more variants found at The Surname Society website along with the meanings of the names.
A’VARD
AVARD
ANSCOMB
ANSCOMBE
UNSCOMBE
ALGAR
ELGAR
ELVAR
ASHBEE
ASHBER
ADOWOOD
ATWOOD
ATTWOOD
AGLING
AYLING
BAILEY
BAILLIE
BAILY
BAYLEY
BAYLY
BALSEY
BELCIE
BELSEY
BELSON
BELSYRE
BARTLEET
BARTLETT
BARWICH
BARWICK
BATES
BATTS
BEAMS
BEARNS
BEAN
BEANE
BEAR
BEER
BUR
BEATHAN
BEETHAM
BEND
BIRD
BLENCOW
BLENCOWE
BLINCOWE
BOWELS
BOWLES
BOWLS
BRET
BRETT
BROUNE
BROWN
BROWNE
BURVELL
BURVILL
CAIRNS
CAVINS
CASSELL
CASSELLS
CHARDLE
CHARDLER
CHATTEN
CHATTON
CLUE
GLUE
COCK
COCKS
COOK
COX
COCKLIN
COCKLING
COCKLYN
COLLIN
COLLINS
COLTHOP
COLTHRUP
COLTHUP
COLTRUP
CRESSET
CRESSETT
CROMLEY
CRUMBY
CASSINGENA
COSSINGENA
CUSSINGENA
DENN
DENNE
DENNY
DERRIAR
VERIER
VERRIER
VERYAR
VERYER
DEVERSON
DEVESON
DEVISON
DICKSON
DIXON
DABSON
DOBSON
DONN
DUNN
DOUEY
DOVES
DOVEY
EASTES
EASTIS
ESTES
ESTYS
EWSTIS
ELVAR
ELVER
EMMES
EMMS
EMS
HEMMS
ENLINSLE
ENTWISLE
FACKLEY
FAKELEY
FAKLEY
FAKLY
FAGG
HAGG
FASSAM
FASSOM
FASSON
FEDJE
FIDGE
FRIDGE
FERRER
FERRIER
FILE
FILES
FINNEES
FINNIS
FLEMENS
FLEMONS
FLEMORS
FOAD
FOAT
FOST
FOLKS
FOULKES
GATTON
GATTEN
GAVAN
GAMMON
GAVIN
GELLHAN
GILLHAM
GILLIES
GILLIS
GODSEY
GOOSEY
GOOZEY
GOLDSACK
POTASNIK
GOODHEW
GOODHEWE
GOODYER
GOODMAN
GOODMANS
GORTON
JORDAN
GOWEN
MCGOWEN
GRICE
GRICH
HALLOWAIT
HELLOWAID
HOLLYDAY
HOLLYDAYE
HOLLAWAY
HOLLIDAY
HOLLOWAID
HOLLOWAY
HOLLOWAYE
HAMBACH
HAMBROOK
HAMMARD
HAMMOND
HANCOCK
HANDCOCK
HAWKINS
HOCKING
HAYWARD
HAYWOOD
HEYWOOD
HEGGS
HIGGS
HOLLETT
HOMETT
HOLMAN
HOLMANS
KOLMAN
HORN
HORNE
HORN
HORNE
HOOKING
HOSKING
HORTON
MORTON
NORTON
HABBETT
HUBBETT
IDDENDEN
IDDENTEN
IDENDEN
IDENDER
IOLDENDEN
IZBICKI
IZBITSKY
KEMP
THEMP
KEMPSHED
KEMSHEAD
KENNET
KENNETT