Letters in cursive script that are often mis-transcribed

[nellie d]

I am having trouble locating a family name...Francis.
I wonder if it may have been read as something  else and transcribed incorrectly!
The reason I wonder, is that I was trying to find Rowlands for years on the 1891 census and through the help of this group they appeared as Dowland.
My Francis fathers was a compositor and I have been led up the garden path by the occupational description on Printer on the census transcription, only to see that it is actually painter.
So, it got me wondering...with cursive scrput are there any particular letters that sometimes get mixed up?

[Rena]

I was taught various styles of writing at school  (various teachers wanting their own standards), so I've written down a few styles and

"Fr" could have been mistaken for an "H" , or "Kr", or "Fia"

An open "a" could be mistaken for an "ei", thus Freincis.  I think that spelling would need a wildcard =  Fre* 

Hopefully others will come along who have experience of the most common errors found in the 1881 census..

[majm]

Yes   

26 letters in our Alphabet and there's many variations in style. 

Same thing with our numbers...

So for example the capital letter Q.  In longhand it can resemble the number 2.

The number 7 can be tricky too ... is it the capital letter F or the capital letter T. 

The number 3 is that the capital letter E or C ....

Many many other mid reads possible ....

Are you expecting a list?

JM

[nellie d]

I was taught various styles of writing at school  (various teachers wanting their own standards), so I've written down a few styles and

"Fr" could have been mistaken for an "H" , or "Kr", or "Fia"

Hopefully others will come along who have experience of the most common errors found in the 1881 census..

Thank you so much Rena. That will get me started!

[nellie d]

Are you expecting a list?

JM

Thank you majm.
I expect it would be a very long one! 

[majm]

Thomas could be a mis-read for Francis.

(and vice versa)


JM

[Suffolkgal]

When having problems looking for a family in the census I have sometimes been able to find them using just their given names.  This assumes, of course, that you know how the family is made up but names, birth year and place of birth can often come up trumps.

[nellie d]

Thomas could be a mis-read for Francis.

(and vice versa)


JM

Thank you JM. I will try that! Don’t think I will be sleeping much tonight! 

[nellie d]

When having problems looking for a family in the census I have sometimes been able to find them using just their given names.  This assumes, of course, that you know how the family is made up but names, birth year and place of birth can often come up trumps.

Brilliant  idea. Thank you Suffolkgal x