Author Topic: Help deciphering name  (Read 699 times)

Offline Spidermonkey

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Help deciphering name
« on: Friday 08 October 21 19:22 BST (UK) »
I am continuing my lockdown project of researching the back stories of signatories of a guest book and I have come across one name that I need help on.

I am tempted to think the first name is Lena, but it could equally be Jena or even Jeni.  The surname looks like it ends in lla, but  ???

Many thanks for any assistance!

Offline Zefiro

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Re: Help deciphering name
« Reply #1 on: Friday 08 October 21 20:26 BST (UK) »
My suggestion: Lene Keller

Offline Girl Guide

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Re: Help deciphering name
« Reply #2 on: Friday 08 October 21 20:38 BST (UK) »
I go with Lena myself.  The surname Keller is logical but it is a very unusual capital K.
Ashford: Somerset, London
England: Devon, London, New Zealand
Holdway: Wiltshire
Hooper: Bristol, Somerset
Knowling: Devon, London
Southcott: Devon, China
Strong: Wiltshire
Watson: Cambridgeshire
White: Bristol
Windo - Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire

Offline crisane

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Re: Help deciphering name
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 09 October 21 01:12 BST (UK) »
My first thought on the surname is Deller. The bottom stroke of the capital D not joining up with the down stroke. As for the first name I can't even hazard a guess.
Do you have a time frame and place for the entries?

There's a Lena Deller mentioned in her father Mathias Becken's will in Ohio. 12 April 1900! :)


Offline Spidermonkey

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Re: Help deciphering name
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 09 October 21 10:40 BST (UK) »
Thank you all for your thoughts.  In a brief (perhaps covid-feverish!) moment I did think that the surname was Melba and then I went down a whole flight of fancy that Nellie Melba also travelled as Lena Melba..........

But I am back in reality today!

The guestbook dates between 1910 and 1916 - the majority of signatures are in the early part of that bracket.  The family had connections in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Wiltshire but also were fortunate enough to have the money and connections to travel abroad too.

Offline Billyblue

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Re: Help deciphering name
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 03 November 21 06:11 GMT (UK) »
I read the surname as Neller.  Sure can't make the capital as K.

Dawn M
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