Name Spelling Changes Why Where How

edmondsallan - Good morning to all . The spelling of names , the spelling changes in a name over time , is a fascinating subject .
Can also be a genealogists , researcher , family archive researchers , night mare .We have several in the extended " Edmonds " family . One family " called ( today " Arnold " ) is actually traceable way back into BC & Palestine - Middle East When I had finished the book of 398 pages on this family , which had taken over 3 years to complete < ( working a minimum of 4 hrs - 6 days a week ) , this family had , Greek , Roman , Swiss.,- Prussian , Danish , Norwegian, English and finally Welsh , before arriving in New Zealand . Although the spelling of the name kept changing slightly each time they dwelled for a few generations in another Country ,they never lost the name or changed it completely .
This particular family is well documented by genealogists through out the world ( I did not know this , when I started putting the "Arnold" book together )I found ,and many , many families are related to this family world wide .They are in a sense - " the main ingredient in a cake " I have also used this family name several ( 7 ) times ,to go back in time , use the name they married to , jump off into another countries Ancestry Archives to search for another family etc' This practice is not uncommon among us Genealogists while researching .
I am debating with myself as to putting their ancestory travel , into our family tree Journals . At this stage , let us just take a peek at the " ARNOLD FAMILY TREE ---- 1100 BC to 2007 AD " book . just to wet our appetites . Their is one particular part of their Ancestry ,that really comes to mind ,could make you wonder about your name & changes , and is still the same today .
On the Wesh & English border is a large township . On the Welsh side it is called " Monmouthshire " & on the English side is called
" Monmouth " I can just sense you saying to yourself , " what the hell is he talking about , one side -- other side ? " Yes reader even today they have an imaginary border line that goes down the main street of this lovely Town . If you live on one side you are Welsh . On the other English . I could wake up in the morning & say to the Missus . " I'll just run over to England & get some milk , dear , won't be to long " in my welsh accent . Ha! Ha! At the time , when I was following the Family name , in Wales they spelt their name
"Arnault " which stayed that way in general from Switzland . Suddenly, bang , crash ' I had lost them Completely. ( the worse that can happen to you !!! ) I retraced the trail several times , Bang !!! , I'd Lose them again every time . Then I found the parents again . then their Four sons . What had happened ? ? ? . this family I was following , one of their sons got married . Then, he couldn't find work in Monmouthshire ( Welsh side ) so he took his family to England . -- across the imaginary Border line. Across the street , They were their several years , and had four ( 4 ) sons . Then they went back to Wales ( across the road and stayed their . Wait -- Don't duck away yet !. while in England the family changed their name to the English version " Arnold ". When they returned to Wales they spelt their name under the Welsh Version " Arnault " The spoke in the wheel, their ( 4 ) sons . which was the next step coming forward , still kept their sur names as " Arnold " the English version . This how the Name of " Arnault " became " Arnold " The ( 4 ) sons born in England . From then on that is how it has been spelt . By the way The " Edmonds " in NZ are " Cussies " of that family of " Arnolds " -- Pakeha & Maori . Ok - I'll have a thought on telling more of this " Arnold family tree " till we meet again - regards - edmondsallan