Abbreviation mystery in the 1861 census take in Forfar

[Beckenham1]

See this census page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53196898@N ... hotostream

There are 3 instances of similar abbrevations used between the christian name and surname of ladies mentioned. What do they mean?

Not every lady on the page has such.

I'm looking at Helen in particular.

Looking in the "GENERAL INSTRUCTION(s) TO THE ENUMERATOR" for the census at the "CONTRACTIONS TO BE USED BY THE ENUMERATOR" has not helped me...

Can anyone help me; please?

Best regards

[AndrewP]

Hi Beckenham1,

It looks to me that the enumerator has been making up his own rules. The ladies that I see (four of them on that page) with these are:

Elizabeth H or Boath
Mary G or Mollison
Helen D or Findlay
Allison M or Waddell

As you were interested in the Findlays, did Helen Findlay's maiden surname begin with "D"? That's all I can suggest.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Beckenham1]

I was afraid tht might be the case...

My candidates maiden name was Duncan so that explanation appears to fit.

However the first wife and the last two on the page don't have an abbreviation.

Curious that the censor is so markedly inconsistent.

Regards
Jim

[AndrewP]

Curious that the censor is so markedly inconsistent

Hi Jim,

It maybe depends what information was given by the householder on the form that they completed for him. Maybe some wives were given by their maiden surnames, and some by their married surnames. Unfortunately the householders' forms were destroyed after the information was taken from them, so we may never know for sure.

All the best,

AndrewP