Genealogy Chat

I was doing some transcribing for YorkshireBMD yesterday and came across someone with the forenames William Mary. Work that one out! lol Jeanette

It is no surprise to find mistakes in transcriptions. The problem as I see it is that once the Transcription is done it seems as if it is carved in stone. What we really need is a site where we can submit our corrections and have SOMEONE take notice and amend them. It would be really nice to look at a book or CD knowing that it is as error free as possible. Perhaps that is too much to hope for in this culture of a quick-fix and instant response. Jim

I did know a man who's 2nd name was Mary, so it is possible. Also as a transcriber we have to transcribe what is actually written, I came across a mistake in the district code used, but had to put what was actually written!! Val

Val I transcribe for Freecen aswell as YorkshireBMD, and in both instances we have to copy exactly what is written. Jeanette

There is a website for 1901 amendments http://www.census.pro.gov.uk/changes_index.html

I have had Salmon/Sowman, Buckle/Buckledee Liz

I found some people on the 1891 & 1901 census's on Ancestry who have been recorded as Glasgow and not Glasscock.

I have had lots of mistranscriptions 1901 and most have been corrected, but the best one had to be the original census entry instead of Lewis Hy Judd was down as Louise Hy Tudd male! on the original handwritten entry ! Sex change and name change. They can't change that as the error was on the original. I've had Dale as Cale and Dare too KIM

1871 census Matthews mistranscribed Marthers 1891 Smoothy mistranscribed Smithy 1901 (top site for mistranscriptions - lol!) Charity - Chanty Jeuel - Denel Lemuel - Leonard and my all-time favourite Smoothy became Lenorthey! This was v. difficult as I couldn't put in the first two letters and *. I had to find it on Christian names and be glad the relatives I was looking for had 3 each. Smoothy isn't written well, but the L bit comes from a big crossing out in front of it. Mind you I've often had to correct my typing when posting messages. It's easily done! Trouble is that sometimes you can work out different spellings (Gray/Grey or Chouns/Chowns) or see how T could be misread J, but sometimes its impossible which is where we all get stuck.

I,ve got a Betsy Hobbs as Belor Hobbs on 1871. The worst one was a married name of H. Jaunt on a death cert, says she is a daughter. With help from here in the 1861 census I found out she was Hannah, it turn's out she was a Gaunt, took me almost a year to get that one sorted. Happy hunting Amanda, London

My examples (so far) from the 1901 census. Transcription error - my Grandfather and siblings all born in Looling - it should have been Tooting. Original census error (gave me some grief - thank God for wild card searches) - my paternal Grandmother and family all entered with surname GALLIS - it should have been GALLIE. It only takes a simple error to throw you out. But I've learnt the lesson and try all variations now.

I spent nearly 2 years trying to track down my Great great Grandmother Callow (Chilvers.) I did not realise I had actually found her on the 1881 census ages ago as she was transcribed as Caroline and her husband Edward as Edwin (Creek.) I then found their marriage and on the certificate she is also listed as Caroline. I suppose, as she could not write, she did not realise that the entry was incorrect. If it had not been for an 80 year old relative knowing the connection to the name Creek, I might never have found her. I was also looking for her daughter Harriet Chilvers and found her in London on the 1871census, born in Sporle, Norway (NORFOLK!!)

After finding that almost all my FAIRY/Fairey clan had become Farry/Farey/ Ferry on Ancestry I decided to have a crack at one VERY mysterious Fairy -in the 1881 census. Someone else found him, not me, as HENRY. There are several tricks to try - others may have more; 1. Search for occupation 2. Search for an unusual christian name within the family 3. Search by age in the right area as you think/know. 4.Use a wildcard 5. If you are requesting look ups advise the the kind soul doing the look up of the variations you are aware of. ANY OTHERS??? Cheers Marlene

Hi Selena & All, Here's some more to add. My mother's maiden name was Wentzell, - abbreviations so far to date - WERTZELL ... WENSELL & WENSILL .... WETZELL .... all understandable, ... but the best one of them all, so far that is, was NEUTZELL .... How Gen from Ealing EVER found that one amaze's me, ... and we wonder why we cannot find our ancestors, is it any wonder, BUT a BIG, BIG THANK YOU to YOU ALL at GC (gr)... without you, I wonder, ... helping us, ... would we be as far with our research without you,(I THINK NOT!!)... MANY THANKS / REGARDS to all, J.C.

I like the Norway - Norfolk one! John, maybe you'll find some more rellies under Worzel as in Gummidge? I have an area down as Histon and Hexton but I think it should be Brixton in Lambeth. I was trying to sound out variations but maybe I should try writing the names in old fashioned curly handwriting and see what it looks like. Selena

Any ideas on what Bateman might be mis written or mis heard as? This is my personal brick wall, only as far back as 1871 and stuck.

Emery transcribed as Eannery on one census as Emmery on another. Debbi

Can add another one now Skilbeck as Skelbeath! George

on the 1891 census my Great Grandad Caudwell is transcribed as Candwell, yet the image clearly shows Caudwell, the 1901 census is juat as bad, entered Candwell the other day and found about 20 rellies, it i think is down to them being transcribed on the Asian continent, how would we be with indian names, it needs a local knowlage for accurate transcribing, but as with everything the multi million pound companys begrudge paying a decent wage for sombody in england do do it.

Selena, I trust you have tried, (OF COURSE YOU HAVE), the obvious Batman, ( Sorry, ... I could not resist that one ), Bakeman, Batemar, Baterman and Beaterman no doubt you have tried these already, ... but as always a fresh mind sometimes brings up a new line, .. hope I have been helpful, .... Happy Hunting, apologies for the Batman pun. Regards J.C.