Trying to make out a surname on 1861 census

[nats788]

Hi there - I am trying to work out the surname of the first entry of this page of the 1861 Census. A few transcripts has it listed as 'Cart', but I have found no record of an Adam and Elizabeth Cart anywhere else. Does anyone have any idea what else it might be?

[horselydown86]

Welcome to Rootschat.

It's not Cart - his style of r is consistent in Henry, Margaret, Straiton and Grand and doesn't match the third letter of Adam's surname.

It could be Cant or Caut.

Out of interest, do other C's on the page have the extravagant loop at the end?

[Jo6100]

Possibly Gough?

[JenB]

If its of any help this same family is transcribed as Cant in both the 1841 and 1851 Scottish censuses for Burntisland, Fife.

[JenB]

I see that Henry, Adams son, was aged 34 in 1861.
There is the death of a Henry Cant aged 35 in Burntisland in 1861.
His mother's maiden surname given as Meldrum

There is a marriage between Adam Cant and Elizabeth Meldrum in 1821.

I rest my case 

Snip added

[Jo6100]

I think you’re right- it looks like the “h” from Elizabeth in the row below is what made me think it was a “g” or “y”

[nats788]

Absolutely spot on, great detective work! JenB thanks for piecing together the evidence! I'm very new to researching family history so I didn't think to use the censuses on either side to try and find a close match - thank you for this I shall do more sleuthing now I have the correct name

[Gadget]

Comparing the other letters, I think it's most like Cant with a flourish after the t.*

Gadget

* see the t at the end of Margaret.

[carol8353]

There's a grandson James, if we knew where this was and could see more of the info- ages and places of birth,it should be easy to work out their names.