William Shakespeare's grandfather - Richard Shakespeare - is recorded in written records as spelling his surname at least "five" different ways! As most people were either illiterate or semi-literate - it is probably far more accurate to state that five different scribes (working in various official capacities) spelt Richard's name in five different ways. This was common - as spelling was not yet standardised in the UK and scholars were expected to write with flare - spelling names, activities and concepts in vastly different (and entertaining) ways! William Shakespeare demonstrates this convention - sometimes spelling the same word (appearing on the same page) as much as three different ways! A fully literate scribe was expected - in the old days - not only to "read" a text but also "decipher" what was being said and conveyed by the author! A lack of standard language usage made this process a highly skilled event - arguably far more difficult than reading modern English! The type of officials we are discussing included "Church" and "Civic" representatives. Invariably, these persons wrote according to how words "sounded" - rather than by any associated convention. This was usually the case as their illiterate clients had no idea (or preference) as to how their surnames were spelt. Indeed, this difference in spelling the Bard's surname is one of the planks in the "Oxfordian" verses the "Stratfordian" debate - but is it a red herring? Literate individuals could (and did) often insist on a certain way of spelling their surname if they were given the choice. It is equally true that if such individuals wished to disappear - the waters might be muddied by placing the odd letter in a different place when signing their names! Of course, it could also be the case that some people like to spell their names differently at various times - seeing this as an essential aspect of their individual freedom and identity. Who could blame them? Today, of course, with the modern standardisation of the English language, there has arisen an almost Confucian obsession with spelling surnames in a specific manner (the Chinese people venerate their ancient surnames). Surnames, like DNA, have become an important part of an individual's identity. In the 1500s (primarily through Tax Returns) all the people of my family living in Duddington and King's Cliff spell their surname "Wyles" without exception. During the early to middle 1600s - two individuals (spouses) - have their name spelt as "Wiles" on their gravestones. During the middle to late 1600s - two individuals (spouses) - possess a grave-marker which spells their names as "Wyles". From there on in - around 95% of the Wyles family occupants of the graveyard of St Mary's Church (Duddington) spell their surname "Wyles". One couple in the 1800s use "Wiles" - with one or two on official records having their surname spelt "Whyles" - when their gravestones clearly state "Wyles". Anthony Holden, William Shakespeare - His Life and Work, ABACUS, (1999), Pages 52-54
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Dear Adrian I have been researching my ancestors, the WILES family of Ruskington for many years. They were yeoman farmers in the village. Thomas Wiles who married Maria Claricoates are my 3 x Great Grandparents. Maria Wiles, sister of Thomas, married Walter Baldock who was in mamy ways "all things Ruskington." He was landlord of the Shoulder of Mutton Public House in the village. Always good to be in contact with fellow researchers. Robert Turner of Newark, Notts. Dear Richard
Thank you for your very interesting email. Although my research has centred upon Duddington, I am always interested to learn more about other lineages of the 'Wiles' - 'Wyles' surname. As a matter of interest, what is the earliest known example of 'Wiles' in the Ruskington area? Prof. Peter McClure has provided documentary evidence to me (the 'lay subsidy rolls') that a man named 'Wyles' existed in Oundle (situated around 13 miles South of Duddington) as early as 1301. For Duddington at the moment. (this could change if older documents are discovered), the earliest documentary evidence is a tax return for a number of men named 'Wyles' dated as '1523'. I suspect this is a father and a number of sons who have perhaps just entered the area under Henry VIII, although this is a contentious issue that needs more research (obviously, the 1523 tax return is for the Crown of Henry VIII). The next document is a 1588 tax return for a number of 'Wyles' men living in Duddington to be paid to Elizabeth I. The first observable burials in St Mary's Church (Duddington) is of 'Robert Wiles' (1619) and his wife 'Agnus Wiles' (1646). The earlier Oundle and tax returns version of the surname is 'Wyles' with the above graves being 'Wiles'. There is only one other burial spelt 'Wiles' in the graveyard but even this is spelt 'Wyles' in other documents. I would like to see more research into the 'Wiles-Wyles' dichotomy as I think with regards to other (unrelated) geographical areas the use of the name might well be unrelated and a product of a different (ancient) Celtic or Anglo-Saxon origins and linguistic evolutions. Of course, spelling was not 'standardised' in the past as it is today, and I have even seen the name spelt 'Whyles' in Church records - which gives a clue to its pronunciation. Again, yet another area of contention as Scottish researchers have suggested to me that the name should be pronounced 'Wy-les' as in 'Wallace' with this latter name being a modern invention, etc. This narrative feeds into the Viking origination theory (that 'Wyles' = 'Jarls') c, 9th century CE. All these theories date to before the Norman Conquest - but I have no direct evidence that 'Wyles' existed prior to this time (Although I am always seeking the possibility of such evidence). On the other hand, names such as Wills, Wylls, Wiles, Wyles, Willes, Wylles and Willes, Wylles etc, could all be derivatives of 'William' or 'Wilhelm', etc, and possibly be inspired by 'William the Conqueror'. Research as to the historicity of the surname is ongoing. All Best Wishes Adrian Wyles |
AuthorAdrian Chan-Wyles - Last Male Descendant of the 'Wyles' Family of Duddington! Archives
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