I'd like feedback on how people handle alternative spellings of a surname. My ancestor, Jacob's will spells his surname BACHTEL. In the censuses, he spells it: BECHTOL (1830); BACHTEL (1840); BECHTEL (1850); and BECHTAL (1860). His grave marker spells it BECHTELL which is the way his father spelled it in the few documents which survive for him. Is there a best practice for how to handle these situations? The most used spelling, for example, or the spelling where it was likely verified (signed) by the party (e.g., the will)? In the censuses, I would imagine, the party told the census taker his name and (possibly) spelled it for him, or not, or even if he did, the census taker wrote it the way he wanted to. Any thoughts are appreciated.
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