Cadzian name, Scotland

[AncesStory]

I have traced my Edinburgh Cadzian ancestors back two centuries to the marriage record of a couple known as Symon Cadyen and Katherine McArthur 18 May 1771, Kilmadock, Perthshire. The name dates back to at least the 16th century in Perthshire and Stirlingshire.
The reason I am posting this information is that it has taken many years of research to uncover the family links from Perthshire to Edinburgh over a span of two centuries, and I have information to share with others researching this family.
The name Cadzian has evolved due to transcription and spelling errors in written records resulting in  weird (occasionally atrocious) variations of the Cadzian name or indeed, the beginning of "new" names, but the name Cadzian has basically endured over time. The "Z" is pronounced as "YE" (Scottish yoch)  as in the surname Menzies, and transcription clerks  unfamiliar with the accent of family  informants or the spelling of the Cadzian name, often did not accurately record the Cadzian name properly  - often  writing the name as they heard it.
This list of spelling variations of the Cadzian name refers to Cadzians from Perthshire, Clackmannanshire, Fife and Edinburgh, Midlothian:
CAYDZIEN
CAYDZIAN
CADZIEN
CADZIAN
CADZEAN
CADZEON
CADGZIN
CADZEN
CADGEN
CADGEAN
CADGIN
CADGIEN
CADGON
CUDGEAN
CADDEN
CADEEN
CADDER

If anyone is researching this family name, I will be happy to share information I have,
AncesStory

[sancti]

At a time when many people couldn't read or write, who decides on the correct spelling of the name?

[Rosinish]

Hi A,

I might be alone on this one but I have never heard the name "Menzies" with the "z" as a "y"?

I have heard it pronounced as "Min"g"es/Min"g"ies/Min"g"us.

Many names have several variations but although it drives us nuts & a fortune, it's also fun too & an education of the past.

Maybe you can get an entry in the Guinness book for most variants of the surname 

Annie

[AncesStory]

I posted about the Cadzian name in Scotland to share what I have researched over many years. There is no "correct" spelling or pronunciation of this name.

Cadzian is the current version of the family name, but as I have previously posted, there are over 17 variations of this name in our family that have been documented since the 17th century, and I am happy to share with others researching the name.

[IMBER]

The John Menzies website has the following:

http://www.johnmenziesplc.com/Data/Sites/1/audio/menzies.wav

Imber

[J11]

Sadly, I don't have the name in my family but I'm sure those that do will be grateful for any help you can give them.

[AncesStory]

Hi A,

I might be alone on this one but I have never heard the name "Menzies" with the "z" as a "y"?

I have heard it pronounced as "Min"g"es/Min"g"ies/Min"g"us.

Many names have several variations but although it drives us nuts & a fortune, it's also fun too & an education of the past.


Annie

Yes, Annie, Menzies, like Dalziel and McKenzie were originally spelled with the Scottish yogh or yoch (the funny looking z character)  - here's an informative link about the Scottish yogh character in names such as Menzies and Cadzian -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4595228.stm
AncesStory

[ianjstew]

Good morning,
Impressed with all your details about the Cadzian etc name.
My Grandmother's maiden name was Caydzien. Around 8 years ago, I traced her family back to a marriage in 1797. Her ancestors included cabinetmakers in Edinburgh and several  emigrations to New Zealand and Canada.
I have restarted research in to the other strands, hopefully to find distant relations and go further back. I am spending time to check  the various spellings and variations in transcription from written word to type.
Appears to be a lot of details on FindMyPast at the local library and the index on Scotland's People.

Any information would be great
Regards
Ian Stewart