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wrong name?

star43

master brummie
I am trying to find an Amy Oakes born 1876, Kings Norton, Worcs. Her mother was Mary Ann Oakes (no father on birth cert). I have found her family in the 1881 census (I think) with an Emily Oakes, could this be Amy?
 
Perhaps the enumerator was having a bad day and has transcribed the name incorrectly .
On the 1891 Census she is listed as Amy age 14 living with her widowed Grandmother Elizabeth who is also on the 1881 Census.
 
Back then the enumerator called at the house and asked who lived there. 'Amy' and 'Emily' can sound similar in some cases, and I doubt if the enumerator bothered to double check - he'd never guess that nearly 120 years later anyone would want to know exactly who it was.
 
It's confusing enough when you have the right name, without having to second guess whether the enumerator was deaf, having a bad day or suffering from a hangover!!! I've only been doing this for about 8 months and the more I do the more confusing it becomes. I am enjoying it really and thankfully there are sites like this to keep me sane.
 
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