Spelling has only been standardised in the UK since 1870 and the start of compulsory education.

Names of places were written as they were pronounced and often the same person spelt them in several different ways. Example, in the Romaldkirk Parish Register (North Yorkshire), the place name, 'Cotherstone', is spelt:

• Cotherston
• Cotherstone
• Cootherston
• Cootherstone

in 4 consecutive entries.

The name, 'Naby', is spelt also as:

• Nabye
• Nabie
• Naby

One vicar, recorded, 'Glodwick near Oldham', as, 'Glatit near Owhum', since he was not used to the local dialect.

The vicars writing Welsh names often made a mess of it, e.g., 'Bodfori', is recorded as, 'Potphari'.

In my own family, I've come across the following spellings of the surname, 'Dixon':

Here are variation of the surname, 'Foggan':