Surname Field
The spelling of a surname might not be as you expect due to:
- Mis-spelling, phonetic spelling or other misinterpretation by an assessor
- Surname variants
- The surname may have been altered or anglicised on arrival in Scotland
- People from the Highlands and Western Isles may have anglicised their Gaelic surname, for example, MacIan to Johnston
- All Mc surnames have been expanded to Mac
- Use of Tee-names – these are most prevalent in fishing towns and hamlets in the north east of Scotland, families of fishermen are known by their boat names rather than their surname. Depending on how these names have been captured you will find a fisherman's boat name captured as part of his surname (for example John Brown 'Beauty' or George Cowie-Helldom). In some circumstance only the boat name has been captured as the surname by the assessor (for example George Helldom, John Beauty).
- Surnames of noble families are often different from the names in their titles. For example the surname of the Dukes of Buccleuch is Montague Douglas Scott. It is more likely that the title will appear in the surname field than the family name for example Buccleuch will appear in the surname field and Duke will appear in the title field, you may not find Montague Douglas Scott in any of the fields. The family name appears in the surname field and the title in the description field
Forename Field
Spelling of a forename might not be as you expect due to:
- Mis-spelling, phonetic spelling or other misinterpretation by an assessor
- Forename variations including abbreviations (for example William, Wm., Willm), use of diminutives (for example Margaret, Maggie, Meg, Peggy) nicknames/pet names or middle names as first names.
Forenames are captured as they are spelt on the valuation roll.
