Reilly or Reily? Did spelling count in 1870?

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s1nead
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:33 pm
Location: San Diego

Reilly or Reily? Did spelling count in 1870?

Post by s1nead » Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:50 pm

I understand that spelling was not really stanardized until the 1900s but ~

Did spelling count in 1870?

I have recently discovered the crypt of my great great grandmother in Ballyea South Cemetery.

In the inscription, our last name was spelled with one "L" ~ Reily.

I presume that my great great grandfather was responsible for writing it and, as a prominent person, I can not understand this misspelling .....

Since this is the first concrete piece of information i have found for them, I wondered if I'd find more if i searched for "Reily" rather than "Reilly".

However, that is not the case........ nothing new turned up with this new keyword.

I have found LOTS of information about his son ~ my great grandfather ~ using REILLY ..... so I am very confused wondering WHY his father spelled the name differently when EVERYTHING about his son used the other spelling ...

So, my question remains ~ does the spelling even matter?

Any ideas WHY he used only one "L" when the name is always spelled with two?

Am I making far too much out of this discrepancy?

Thank you!
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Declan Barron
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:13 am

Re: Reilly or Reily? Did spelling count in 1870?

Post by Declan Barron » Sun Sep 28, 2014 1:17 am

Yes I believe you are making too much of the difference.

s1nead
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:33 pm
Location: San Diego

Re: Reilly or Reily? Did spelling count in 1870?

Post by s1nead » Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:14 am

Really?
OK ~ that was my question....

That is exactly what I was wondering.
Thanks!

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