My last name is waight?

wendy right. in medieval times, when surnames first being used, there no spelling rules have today. few people read or write, , could, spelled words sounded. wasn't uncommon find same word spelled several different ways on same document. nobody cared, because there no "right" or "wrong" way spell things.

started change when printing press invented. instead of arranging each word individual letters, printers created blocks of commonly used words , used them on , over. people got used seeing words spelled way, , that's when began form notion there proper way spell things. still, took long time before spelling universally standardized. first american spelling dictionary published in 1806 noah webster.

throughout 1800s, spelling gradually became part of school children's education. spelling taught applied common words, , not proper nouns. took longer people feel own names should have consistent spelling. late 1800s, many families went , forth between spellings: waite 1 day, waight another. wasn't until 1900s when people settled on specific, consistent spelling surnames.... , wasn't same relatives. 1 branch of family may have settled on waite, while cousins settled on waight. immigrating new country factor.

i know spellings waite weit wate wite.i have been told come same place. why different spellings?

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