Undoubtedly, some of these surnames
may be unrelated to the Northern family.
During my research, I found instances where different sources indicated
different spellings of the surname. For example, I ran across the Northern,
Northen, and Northon surname associated with the same individual. It was
clear that each of the sources referenced the same individual since they all
shared the same first name and the same spouse.
The question arises, then, “Why so many variations in the surname spelling”?
I believe there are at least two plausible explanations. One explanation is
that the original surname changed over time, evolving into the present day
Northern usage. Another explanation is that all early records were,
obviously, handwritten. Quite possibly, our ancestors and/or other record
keepers miswrote the name, thus causing confusion for modern era
researchers. Perhaps there are other explanations as well.
In any event, it appears clear that most, if not all of the surname
variations can be closely associated with the Northern family.
Contributors
Since starting the Northern
Family Genealogy website, several individuals have been kind enough to
submit information that is included on the website. Where appropriate and
with the permission of the contributor, the name of the contributor is
included with their contribution of information. Information provided by
the contributors is very much appreciated.
