possible change of surname in 1640 from packer to parker in bristol

Question

arthur parker born 1640 married grace neale in shurston magna wilts.in1663.                  is it possible for arthur parker to have changed the spelling of his name from packer to parker.all other dates seem to be correct for him being the son of arthur packer born 1612 in charlton kings and mother being ann button.this second arthur lived in westerleigh glos and also had a son called arthur parker.its just the spelling of the surname that does not match.

Answer 1

It is possible, but you have to weigh up the evidence for and against.  Several of my ancestors changed their names at will, some with a valid reason, some without an obvious reason.

Nobody can give you a definitive answer, in this case if you feel strongly that it is a match, then (whether a Wikitree member or not) explain your reasons for believing it to be correct.  In Wikitree this is in the biography, in your own family tree programme you should also state the uncertainties.

Something may turn up in the future to prove/disprove the theory.  Have you looked for any relevant Wills?

Margaret

Answer 2

As Margaret has said, very possible.

Records in those days were in Latin, and very much transcribed by the cleric on his undestanding of the surname, verbally given to him.

Answer 3

I have had the problem in reverse. The answer lay in the way they wrote the letter 'c'.  from the 'a' you would go to an upward stroke, down a bit, and then a short crossbar.

So looking like a letter 'r' it is in fact a 'c'.