Healey and Healy

Brian,

The idea of a single or correct spelling for a surname or a place name in Ireland is very much a recent phenomenon designed to meet the needs of modern officialdom. Before that there was no consistency. Names were spelled phonetically and each variation was down to the whim of the particular person recording the information. You will often see the spelling change as the records go back. This rarely indicates a deliberate decision to alter the name, nor even a mistake. Not everyone was literate, but even when they were, exact and consistent spelling simply wasn’t something they bothered about. In addition to varying the actual spelling, O’ or Mac prefixes were optional and were often omitted.

In 1899, the Rev Smith reviewed the early records of Antrim 1^st Presbyterian church (covering the years 1674 to c 1736). He noted: “Even the same word is not always spelled alike by the same hand. Indeed spelling with most of the recording officials (and they must have been fairly numerous) was a matter of the most sublime indifference. The name William, for instance, is spelled 3 different ways in as many lines; while Donegore, a neighbouring parish, is spelled 10 different ways; but these extend over a good number of years. Many families names are spelled phonetically, while others are given in the most round-about fashion.”

So expect spelling to vary. That was the norm.

Brian,

The spelling of a surname and why it changed is something that is discussed regularly on genealogy forums. As far as Ireland is concerned most people were barely literate and completely indifferent to how their name was spelled. Here are 2 examples of spelling varying within the same family in the same census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Sharvogues/Drumsough/920148/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1851/Antrim/Upper_Glenarm/Carncastle/Four_Score_Acre/5/

In the 1901 Irish census there were 10478 people with the name Healy. 10259 were RC and 219 other denominations. 322 were spelled Healey, of whom 276 were RC and 46 other denominations. There were also 32 Hely, and probably there are other spellings if you search for them.  It varied across the denominations, and across the country. According to an expert on the subject, the likely reasons for these variations are “local dialect, pronunciation and inconsistency in spelling, well into the nineteenth century.” (Maxwell - see below).

I have attached a couple of pages taken from “Your Irish Ancestors” by Ian Maxwell (2008) which covers the subject and refers to Matheson’s 1901 report on surname spelling variations. He highlights the fact that - as I mentioned above - it can vary within the same family, never mind around the country. That has to be because of whim or indifference rather than some wider strategic reason. If there's more of a particular spelling in a certain area, then that is probably down to local dialect.

It comes up in place names too. In Co Armagh there’s a town named Tandragee, and sometimes Tanderagee. Another named Belleek and Balleek. Both versions are in regular use. The residents don’t seem to lie awake at night wondering why there are 2 versions. Though possibly delivery drivers do.

Brian,

Glad to help. 

You mention that “the immigration agents also wrote peoples last names wrong and really didn’t care”. You might find this article from the New York Public library interesting:

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2013/07/02/name-changes-ellis-island