CUBA-L Archives
Archiver > CUBA > 2005-12 > 1135951978
From:
Subject: Re: [CUBA-L] CALIO, CALIE,COLIN, COLINE
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 09:12:58 EST
Names and Surnames were commonly misspelled in official records. Lack of
spelling rules, names spelled phonetically, or many simply misspelled by accident
are the many reasons for variations of the same surname. Names and surnames
also changed in order to adapt to a new culture, to sound more elegant or to
appear less common.
The most common reason for "original" surnames changing was due to ortografia
and caligrafia. It was not until 1713 when the Real Academia was founded,
that we find the development of spelling and composition rules for the Spanish
language. The Diccionario de Ortografia was published in 1741 and the
Diccionario de Gramatica in 1771.
The second most common mistake was the spelling or recording of names
phonetically by civil and ecclesiastical officials; therefore the letters x, h, j, g,
c, s, z, v, b, i and y were used interchangeably prior to the eighteenth
century.
You will also find surnames from Galicia, the Basque Country, Cataluña,
Mallorca, and other areas, along with foreign surnames, that conform to their
regional/national spelling, and in other instances reflect Castilian spelling.
Sorry for the long note, but is my way of saying that in my opinion there is
not a "correct" spelling of a particular surname. That is why in genealogy is
so important not to take the particular spelling of a surname for granted.
You also have to research similar spelled surnames and that you have other data
to validate the individual's documents that they are in fact about the same
individual.
The only surnames in your list listed by Gutierre Tibon's Diccionario
etimologico de los Apellidos Españoles is Colin, Coli which is derived from Nicolas;
Colina, Colline, Colino from the Latin collis. Cal from the Latin Calx, calcis
has Caler, Caleo, Calsina, Calcina, Lacal, Dacal.
Saludos and Happy New Year
Jorge
This thread: