It is interesting following names down through the ages. When thought about, it is easily understood that spelling followed pronunciation. Surnames are relatively new so there wasn't any examples to follow. The sounds were written as the scribe interpreted. Often the owner of the name had no actual idea of the spelling as they were illiterate. Truncation and abbreviations were common, and still are, as scribes hastily wrote down what they heard. Elongation of names or any word is relatively uncommon, not unheard of though, but rare enough just the same. The name Dunstan is phonetically similar to Dunstone, Dunston and Dunstane if spoken lazily or with a broad thick accent. So I ask, why is there only an entry for Dunstan in this "Behind the Name" site? The other closest one listed here is "Dunst" which is also a possible truncation of Dunstone. I have seen certification for a 'Dunstone' father, a 'Dunston' son with a 'Dunstan' grandson. I've not yet seen an elongation of a variation of this name. 'Dun' actually refers to the colour of grey or gray as you prefer. The 'stone' is self evident, with one example of a Dun-stone being found as a tithe rock. Now some will take umbrage with this and say it doesn't matter, so I put it to you, when someone misspells your name, does it matter to you?
Surnames are relatively new so there wasn't any examples to follow. The sounds were written as the scribe interpreted. Often the owner of the name had no actual idea of the spelling as they were illiterate. Truncation and abbreviations were common, and still are, as scribes hastily wrote down what they heard. Elongation of names or any word is relatively uncommon, not unheard of though, but rare enough just the same. The name Dunstan is phonetically similar to Dunstone, Dunston and Dunstane if spoken lazily or with a broad thick accent. So I ask, why is there only an entry for Dunstan in this "Behind the Name" site? The other closest one listed here is "Dunst" which is also a possible truncation of Dunstone. I have seen certification for a 'Dunstone' father, a 'Dunston' son with a 'Dunstan' grandson. I've not yet seen an elongation of a variation of this name.
'Dun' actually refers to the colour of grey or gray as you prefer. The 'stone' is self evident, with one example of a Dun-stone being found as a tithe rock. Now some will take umbrage with this and say it doesn't matter, so I put it to you, when someone misspells your name, does it matter to you?