Quote Originally Posted by jeeb View Post
I wasn't doubting you would know how your husband's grandparents spelt their name. I was merely pointing out that it always has the 'e' in 1871/81/91 censuses which seems odd for a school teacher to mis-spell his name so wondered why or if it had been changed to its present day spelling?
Jeremy, I believe I owe you an apology. This morning when dusting(!) I picked up a family Bible. Inside was the information that it had been presented to 'Mrs Walter Copeland' by 'John P Copeland' in 1844. This would have been John Pringle Copland, and the lady would have been his sister-in-law Elizabeth Little, who married his brother Walter. This is the first time I have noticed a member of that family using the 'e'.