Look at it this way.

Why is it that whatever the name someone can come up with a new way of using it? Whenever you look at the census you have to be aware that the name you are looking for might not be the one that is listed. The change might be down to the daughter of the house having the name Margaret but being known to all as Peggy. Mind you my mother was a Peggy but she was christened as such. Names of today are being used rather differently to those of the past. In many cases what was once a nickname is now the given name. If your ancestor was an Elizabeth then she could be listed as Betty, Liz, Lizzie or Eliza. It's not just the Rev. Samuel OLIVER who didn't know the names. He made it clear that he was unsure by putting down all the variation at his disposal. However I am unsure how he managed to guess at the name being HEWERDINE or CASTLEDINE or even HAWKIN or SOUTHERN or SOUTHERAL. And you think you have a problem because you have a couple of Williams in the family.

A name that I have been looking for recently is that of BLYTHIN. A variation can be arrived at by putting a 'g' on the end and making BLYTHING. The surname concentration for BLYTHIN is in the Flint and Wrexham area. BLYTHIN is considered to be the English version. The Celtic version is BLYTHING and has the same concentration plus the Merseyside area. In 1881 there were just 311 individuals with the name and almost without exception they all have links to this area. I am unsure of the meaning for this surname but there seems to be a possible change to BLEDDYN and into the mysteries of the welsh language. A search on the internet produces the site www.surnamedb.com. This interesting site gives the information that "Recorded as BLETHIN, BLEYTHIN, BLEYTHING, BLYTHIN, and others, this is a surname which has Welsh royal connections. It derives from the Ancient British personal name "Bleddyn," translating as the son of Little Wolf. The name is much associated with early Welsh royalty, Bleddyn ap CYNFAN, being the prince of Gwynedd in the 11th century. The early recordings are all associated with Wales, although the variant spellings have often been English. Meredith ap BLETHYN was given as being a Welshman or Briton, who in what was then known as "The Survey" but later became the famous Domesday Book, is recorded as holding the manor of Oswestry."

Bits and Bobs

LRSM - 2nd October 1801 - Marriage: On Tuesday, the 15th instant at Bottesford, Lincolnshire, John KIRK an occasional preacher in the Methodist Connexion, to Susanna SEATON of Burringham, a Mantua Maker. The patient Bride had kept company near two years with a Blacksmith of the same place, and was actually Published with him in the Church (Banns) the very Sunday preceding her marriage; but for reasons best known to herself, eloped next day with the Preacher; so true it is that we know not what a day may bring forth.