Leonin Blanchan/Blanchamp/Blanchant (1578-1649) - does anyone have a source showing how he spelled his name?

Question

Blanchan, Blanchamp, Blanchant, and Beauchamp (see the unmerged match of Beauchamp-111) are all variations found for this name. A transcription of the record for his son's marriage has Anthoine Blanchamp [Blanchant], which would seem to indicate that the transcriptionist thought Blanchant was the correct spelling.

I'm thinking that Blanchamp or Blanchant would be better than Blanchan, but I'm ok with the father remaining Blanchan. If anyone has a source that indicates how Leonin spelled his name in his lifetime, that would be great! (and the best spelling to use for the WikiTree ID).

Thanks! Liz

Answer 1

At that time names were spelled phonetically and varied from one speller to the next.  This is true up until the mid 1800's, and even then if the folks weren't literate spelling could change.

Answer 2

I don't know how the spelling began, but I do know where it ended up!

Dale Blanshan

Answer 3

when in doubt>>books

Heidgerd, Ruth P., comp., Matthew Blanchan in Europe and America, DuBois Family Assn., Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, NY Heidgerd, William, ed.,The American Descendants of Chretien DuBois of Wicres, DuBois Family Assn. vols. I-III LeFevre, Ralph, History of New Paltz New York and Its Old Families (From 1678-1820), Fort Orange Press, 1903; reprinted Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore 1973 Reynolds, C., Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., NY 1914 Smyth, S.G., The Origin and Descent of an American Van Metre Family, Rylmont, West Conshohocken, PA 1923