An O'Brien by any other name?

[AP999]

Sometime between the US census of 1880 and that of 1900 one of my O'Brien ancestors changed the spelling of his name to O'Bryan.  It was an intentional change since that is how it is shown on his gravestone as well.  His brothers retained the original spelling.  Is there some change in Irish social status associated with the change to O'Bryan?  It does not seem to be an effort to distance himself from the brothers as they were included in his will.

[aghadowey]

It wasn't uncommon for people to change their surname after they arrived in another country. Sometimes it was easier to change the spelling/surname rather than try to change the way it had become on a document.
One branch of my Irish family use a different spelling of the same name because their clergyman (no relation but had alternate version of the surname) used the spelling of his name when writing letters of recommendation. When they got to New Zealand it was easier to stick with the 'new' version.

[Rosinish]

It seems to me from my own research, many names morphed into a different spelling for whatever reason.

I've found at times the reason may have been through illiteracy, whatever spelling written down by others was what was used.

There was also a problem with accents & lack of English as many Irish & Scots spoke mainly Gaelic.

Annie