The Spelling Challenge
Genealogists know this frustration well: you're searching for your ancestor in census records, and their surname appears differently in every single document. Sometimes the variations are slight. Other times, they're so dramatic you'd never connect them to the same family without additional evidence.
This article documents my research journey tracing my 2nd great-grandmother's lineage through the CASTETTER/CASTATOR family—a surname that appears in at least 28 different spellings across various historical records. What I discovered along the way includes not just spelling variations, but surprising family secrets hidden in plain sight within census records.
Key Takeaway
Surname spelling variations aren't errors—they're breadcrumbs. Each variation tells us something about pronunciation, literacy levels, regional accents, and the census taker's interpretation. Understanding these patterns is essential for successful genealogical research.
All 28+ Surname Variations Found
Through extensive research across census records, marriage documents, land records, and military records, I've identified the following spelling variations of the Castetter/Kerstetter surname:
| Variation | Variation | Variation | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castetter | Castator | Castater | Castteter |
| Carsteter | Casteter | Castor | Kirstaetter |
| Kestiter | Kearstuter | Kerstetter | Kierstaetter |
| Kirstätter | Kirschstatter | Karstetter | Kastetter |
| Kastater | Kastator | Kaster | Kostatter |
| Kostetter | Custaton | Casteller | Castelter |
| Casteator | Castrater | Kerstaetter | Kirstetter |
Research Note: The variations beginning with "K" (Kerstetter, Kirstätter, etc.) often appear in Pennsylvania German communities, while "C" variations (Castetter, Castator) are more common in later records as families migrated west and names became Anglicized.
Michael Castator & Anna Elizabeth Thomas
Michael Castator/Kerstetter
- Born: circa 1798 in Tennessee
- Married: Anna Elizabeth Thomas on January 16, 1817 in Butler County, Ohio
- Died: after 1840
- Relationship: My 4th great-grandfather
Anna Elizabeth Thomas
- Born: circa 1801-02 in Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee
- Married: Michael Castator on January 16, 1817
- Died: between 1850-1860
- Father: Henry Thomas (b. 1764-67 Pennsylvania; d. after 1820)
- Grandfather: Jacob Thomas (b. circa 1739-43 Pennsylvania; d. June 20 - August 28, 1804 in Blount County, Tennessee)
- Relationship: My 4th great-grandmother
Research Discovery (2009 Update)
Through additional research, I was able to connect Anna Elizabeth Thomas to her father Henry Thomas and grandfather Jacob Thomas. This connection was made possible by correlating census records, land records, and geographic proximity in Blount County, Tennessee.
George Washington Castator & Elizabeth Anne Watson
George Washington Castator
- Born: circa 1817 in Ohio
- Parents: Michael Castator and Anna Elizabeth Thomas
- Married: Elizabeth Anne Watson on August 24, 1840 in Ripley County, Indiana
- Relationship: My 3rd great-grandfather
Elizabeth ("Eliza") Anne Watson
- Born: circa 1820 in Indiana
- First Marriage: George Washington Castator on August 24, 1840
- Second Marriage: William Hobbs after October 4, 1881
- Died: after 1880
- Relationship: My 3rd great-grandmother
Major Discovery: The "Divorced" Census Entry
One of the most significant findings in my research came from the 1880 census for Ripley County, Indiana. Elizabeth Anne Watson Castator is listed as "divorced"—not widowed, as family narratives had suggested.
This single census entry contradicted decades of family stories and opened up an entirely new line of inquiry. It also explained her subsequent marriage to William Hobbs after October 4, 1881.
Research Tip: Always examine marital status columns carefully in census records. These entries can reveal family secrets, correct mistaken assumptions, and provide crucial clues for further research.
Name Correction (2014 Update)
After consulting William Cobbett's "The Emigrant's Guide," I corrected Elizabeth's middle name from "Jane" (as it appeared in some family records) to "Anne"—the historically accurate spelling found in primary sources.
Following the Census Trail
Tracing this family across multiple census records required searching under numerous surname variations. Here's the census trail I followed:
Census Records by Decade
1820 Census
- Ripley County, Indiana
- Butler County, Ohio
1830 Census
- Ripley County, Indiana
- Ross, Butler County, Ohio
1840 Census
- Ross, Butler County, Ohio
1850 Census
- Ripley County, Indiana
1870 Census
- Ripley County, Indiana
- Fairmount, Grant County, Indiana
1880 Census
- Ripley County, Indiana (where Elizabeth's "divorced" status was discovered)
- Fairmount, Grant County, Indiana
1900 Census
- Referenced for Margaret Castetter
Search Strategy: When a surname has this many variations, I searched each census location under multiple spellings: Castetter, Castator, Kerstetter, and phonetic variants. I also searched by given names when the surname proved too variable.
Key Research Discoveries
1. The Thomas Family Connection
Connecting Anna Elizabeth Thomas to her father Henry Thomas and grandfather Jacob Thomas required piecing together census records, land records, and geographic patterns. The Thomas family's migration from Pennsylvania to Tennessee to Ohio mirrors the westward movement of many early American families.
2. The Divorce Record
The 1880 census revelation that Elizabeth was divorced—not widowed—fundamentally changed our understanding of this branch of the family. This discovery highlights the importance of questioning family narratives and verifying them against primary sources.
3. Name Standardization
The evolution from "Kerstetter" (Pennsylvania German) to "Castetter/Castator" (Anglicized) reflects broader patterns of linguistic assimilation as families moved westward and integrated into English-speaking communities.
4. The Middle Name Correction
Consulting period sources like William Cobbett's "The Emigrant's Guide" proved essential for correcting Elizabeth's middle name from the family-recorded "Jane" to the historically accurate "Anne." This demonstrates the value of consulting contemporary documents when resolving naming discrepancies.
Family Timeline
Jacob Thomas born in Pennsylvania (Anna's grandfather)
Henry Thomas born in Pennsylvania (Anna's father)
Michael Castator/Kerstetter born in Tennessee
Anna Elizabeth Thomas born in Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee
Jacob Thomas dies in Blount County, Tennessee
Michael Castator marries Anna Elizabeth Thomas in Butler County, Ohio
George Washington Castator born in Ohio (son of Michael and Anna)
Elizabeth Anne Watson born in Indiana
Henry Thomas dies
George Washington Castator marries Elizabeth Anne Watson in Ripley County, Indiana
Michael Castator dies
Anna Elizabeth Thomas dies
George Washington Castator and Elizabeth Anne Watson divorce
Elizabeth Anne Watson marries William Hobbs
Elizabeth Anne Watson dies
Research Sources & References
Published Sources
- Kerstetter, Stephen Arlington. The Kerstetter Family: The Early Years, 1727-1850. [Publication details from original research].
- Cobbett, William. The Emigrant's Guide. [Used to verify Elizabeth's middle name as "Anne"].
Primary Records
- Marriage Records, Butler County, Ohio (Michael Castator and Anna Elizabeth Thomas, January 16, 1817)
- Marriage Records, Ripley County, Indiana (George Washington Castator and Elizabeth Anne Watson, August 24, 1840)
- U.S. Federal Census Records: 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1870, 1880, 1900
- Land Records, various counties in Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana
- Military Records
- Find a Grave Records
Digital Resources
- Ancestry.com census database
- Various online genealogical databases and digitized records
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there so many spelling variations for Castetter/Kerstetter?
Surname spelling variations in historical records stem from multiple factors: census takers recording names phonetically based on how they heard them pronounced, varying literacy levels among both families and record-keepers, regional accents affecting pronunciation, and the gradual Anglicization of German surnames as families assimilated into English-speaking communities. The "K" to "C" shift (Kerstetter to Castetter) is particularly common in Pennsylvania German families moving westward.
How do I search for ancestors with highly variable surnames?
Use multiple strategies: search under every known spelling variation, use wildcards in database searches (like "C*st*tt*r"), search by given names in specific locations when surnames are too variable, use Soundex codes for phonetic matching, and always verify matches using other identifying information like birth years, spouse names, and children's names.
What's the significance of finding "divorced" in an 1880 census record?
Divorce was relatively uncommon in 19th-century America, making this designation particularly noteworthy. It contradicts family narratives that Elizabeth was widowed, reveals potential family stories that were suppressed or forgotten, explains her subsequent marriage to William Hobbs, and demonstrates why primary sources should always be prioritized over family tradition when conducting genealogical research.
How did you connect Anna Elizabeth Thomas to her father and grandfather?
This connection required triangulating multiple sources: census records showing geographic proximity in Blount County, Tennessee; land records indicating property ownership patterns; marriage records providing maiden names and witnesses; and migration patterns consistent with family movements from Pennsylvania to Tennessee to Ohio. No single document proved the connection—the evidence emerged from correlating multiple records.
Should I trust family stories about ancestor names?
Family stories are valuable starting points, but they should always be verified against primary sources. Names, dates, and relationships can become distorted over generations through oral transmission. In this case, the family tradition about Elizabeth's middle name ("Jane") proved incorrect when compared to contemporary documents showing "Anne." Use family stories as clues, then verify with historical records.