As you'll no doubt discover, MANY last names are spelled phonetically, resulting in numerous variations. I went through a similar thing; last name is reed, spelling could be reed, read, reade, reid, rede. And, to compound that, it was a surname given to folks who didnt have one (a result of either a ruddy complexion, or red hair, which, again, can denote different countries of origin).
I found that, searching so thoroughly through my own genealogy, was a rich, rewarding experience, opening me up to learning about cultures and societies I never had a good understanding of. I hope you get the same out of your journey through your ancestry.