Deciphering names on census

[sookie23]

Has anyone ever deciphered names on a census I've come across a few names I just cant make out. Life must have been hard for the people that had to copy all the census, as I sure a lot of people back in the 1800's couldn't read or write judging by X is the mark of.. on wedding records.

Makes it part of the fun searching. Haggy is my one of the moment

[Pam Downes]

Am I being a bit dim (highly likely ) or have you not explained what you mean very clearly?

To the best of my knowledge, all the available censuses in the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada have been transcribed. Not always accurately. So when you say 'decipher' do you mean trying to work out who someone such as Hovenn A,in the 1881 census is? (Florence M, believe it or not.)
Or do you mean trying to work out the reason why someone has a particular (as in unusual) first or surname?

Pam

[sookie23]

Decipher is probably the wrong word to have used, but it certainly feels like it to me

On one census I have two girls who's names are Haggy and Hale as of yet I haven't come across any birth records for them. So I've put it down to the transcriber not understanding the writing or spelling of the person who wrote their census.

So my chore for today is finding out Haggy and Hales correct names

Hale I'm thinking Alice, Eliza

Haggy I'm at a loss. unless they put Harry and her name was Henrietta

[Sandyhall]

As you say lots of folk could not read or write so the census emunerater whoud write down what he heard some people have accents so some times so what was said was miss construde. An Irish Teacher at school used to call me Sadie when my name is Sandy(Sandra)


Have you found them in any other census to check out and see what the real names are ?

[Peter Goodey]

Haggy I'm at a loss. unless they put Harry and her name was Henrietta

How about Aggy (Agnes or Agatha)?

Hale I'm thinking Alice, Eliza

We'd have to see it but Hale could be Kate.

[sookie23]

That's my plan for today. Just been side tracked looking for someone else.

[sookie23]

You got both of them right. Thank you very much. Agnes lead me to another census that showed all the family together with their names all but one spelt correctly.