I get frequent  questions from mostly new younger members who find it frustrating that they discover conflicting family surnames for the same individuals.  These are primarily for pre-late 19th Century names.  Case in point recently was Light vs Licht, Brown vs Braun, Hoover vs Huber, etc. I remind our database searchers that one must search for alternate spellings for family names.  Perhaps use the soundex of vs contain if you are uncertain of possible alternative spellings. As for why one database return may use one spelling vs another database uses another all I can say it really goes to how the information came to the database owner.  Often times published genealogies use the descendants preferred spelling for their ancestors when they published their work.  Other database owners use what or how the name was spelled found on the gravestone (although there have been known misspellings found on these that did not match what the family used).  Other family lines from the 18th century one child may angelize their surname as opposed to use their original spelling or German form.  This is also the case for first names like Heinrich vs Henry, Johannes, vs, John  etc. And I also know  that some database contributors use the name found on birth certificates or death certificates (and even these may not be what the individual actually used.)  Bottom line is this is:  It is one of the challenges of doing genealogy, and it really is left up to the individual which spelling or name they use.  And to make things even more complicated, is the use of nick names.  Where Fannie/Fanny is the nick name for Veronica or Lena and Lana nick name for Magdalena, and then nick names that are just family made up names, such as Junior (when the child's name is not the same as the father's), or names like Corky, Dodger, etc.  And to make things worse, some parents actually give these "nick name" as their child's actual first name. Having made this discussion a few times on line or over the phone, I hope this clarifies this apparent discrepancy.  And it is this same reason why SAGA could not/will not merge databases as it violates member's individuals' decisions      Hoosierly Yours, James G. Hermsen 8108 Laura Lynne Lane Indianapolis, IN 46217 317-881-4600 main 317-679-1466 cell Question Critically, Think Logically, Communicate Clearly, Act Creatively, Live Ethically.