When it comes to writing down what the writer thought they'd heard, pity the poor registrars, vicars, census enumerators et al who had dealings with the German immigrant family who settled in London in the 1800s and from whom I am descended. I give you the Kannegiesser family. I have come across around 20 different spelling variations in the records, all for the same family. I am thankful I am descended through one of the daughters so didn't end up with it being my surname. It's no wonder that the grandfather of one of the male line descendants who I am in contact with Anglicised it to King!
|