Genealogy Chat

My gggrandfather was born in Flava according to the 1871. I admit the image is bad but if I can make out it says France then someone employed to transcribe should be able to read it too. Course can't yet report that to ancestry yet as they're only taking name mistranscriptions. As for the 1851, before they withdrew that from my grasp I found one of my Horsup's transcribed as Horkep. The best one yet is from the 1901 where one of the Macaree's was listed as a corsaque maker. i had visions of her running about with Russians but turned out she made corsages for weddings.

Yes, I have come across some bad transcriptions on Ancestry. If they have transcribed the name incorrectly when it is clearly readable, I always report the error. Hope you folks all do the same. I like to think I am making it easier for anyone who comes after me! Cheers, Lynn

Henley on Thames has been towed down the river and is now in Essex. Ashby de la Zouch has moved from Leicestershire to Leichtenstein.

Was looking for a London-born relly, and couldn't find them anywhere with London as county of birth. So then I tried with London in the keywords box rather than in the county box - and my name popped up - born in St. London, Oxfordshire!! When I looked at the image, it actually said ''Oxford St, London'', so could see how the mistake occurred in that case, at least! Richard

And I've found Exeter in Poland! Angela

It isn't just Ancestry - the 1901 official govt site has place of birth Limpenhoe mistranscribed as Limperhoe (understandable, but incorrect) and the very uncorrect sounding Limperhal. I've also found Camligger instead of Cambridge, even when another family member on the same household is correctly transcribed as born in Cambridge. If transcribers had to use a gazetteer this wouldn't happen. nell

I'm amazed by the mistranscriptions. Best I've found is Buckingham Palace = Polan, Buckinghamshire, England or Pread, Buckinghamshire, England on the 1851 Doesn't HRH give you a bit of a clue!! No These were both on the same page!! Penny

lol Ann!! That must be why I can't find my Rotherhithe lot, they were all hiding in Rotherham!! :0) Joan

Another I've just found... in 1891 a family living in the same street as mine, has a child with the name 'Bolton, Baby Not Christund' Really makes me wonder about the native language of these transcribers.

Some of their mistranscriptions are really annoying. I spent ages trying to find one of my rellies sisters, but didn't know her married name. I finally thought I'd located her when they were together (widowed) on the 1901 census. But our favourite optically challenged friends had transcribed her name as Priston. It should read BOISTON. It's only taken me 2 months to work out what it should have been!

Reading Julie's thread about Norfolk made me smile. One of my Northumberland families is shown as coming from Northland. well I know it is OOP NORTH but some of these mistranscriptions are just plain daft. Anyone got any really stupid ones?