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Experiencing name issues

Experiencing name issues
Both first and last names can be pronounced and spelt a variety of ways…none of which are incorrect, they are just different.

However, these differences can cause havoc for genealogists when trying to find people in documents or in online databases. Different pronunciations can mean different spellings of names get written down and this can make finding people difficult.

Presented here are a number of names with a variety of people pronouncing them to illustrate this point. Listen to the pronunciations and think about how you would write down that name. Did this vary from the spelling given?

In the next step you will be given the opportunity to record a name or number of names and share them with your classmates.

Surnames

MENZIES

TURNBULL

BEAUCHAMP

WRIOTHESLEY

CAIRNEY

FRIEDRICHSEN

SCHWARZ

First names

Jesus

Eva

Siobhan

Rhys

Isla

Vincenzo

© University of Strathclyde
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Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree

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