Several prior post have discussed the fact that the same name often gets spelled in a variety of ways. For the genealogist, it is necessary to identify how these spellings can occur, and explore all alternative spellings when facing one of those brick walls. This post shows that various spellings can also happen over time, presenting another dimension to all this brick wall climbing. For my own tree climbing experience it was the surname "Taliaferro".
Beginning in 1651, the name was first spelled "Troliver". It took some 60 years before the surname came to be spelled "Taliaferro". The following table presents how the name was spelled in the patent records of Virginia 1651 - 1711. [Taken from Cavaliers and Pioneers - Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, by Nugent, Vol. I - III]
1651 - Troliver - CP(I) p. 224
1655 - Troliver - CP (I) p. 307
1661 - Tolliver - CP (I) p. 417
1666 - Taliafro - CP (I) p. 548
1666 - Taifer - CP (I) p. 548
1666 - Tallifro - CP (I) p. 548
1667 - Talifro - CP (II) p. 21
1667 - Talliferoe - CP (II) p. 32
1667 - Talliferoe - CP (II) p. 39
1669 - Toliferoe - CP (II) p. 70
1670 - Talliferoe - CP (II) p. 90
1671 - Talliafero - CP(II) p. 93
1671 - Taliaferro - CP (II) p. 149
1673 - Taliafer - CP (II) p. 123
1673 - Talliaferro - CP (II) p. 138
1685 - Taliaferoe - CP (II) p. 294
1691 - Taliaferoe - CP (II) p. 360
1693 - Taliaferro - CP (II) p. 380
1694 - Taliafero - CP (II) p. 397
1695 - Taliaferro - CP (II) p. 401
1705 - Taliaferro - CP (III) p. 93
Some 60 years in the records...what a deal.
1711 - Taliaferro - CP (III) p. 124
