Surname problem

[Davran]

I have someone who was known as Mark MARLOW in all the censuses on a side branch of my tree. I have been contacted by a twig of this branch, who informed me that Mark's surname was MARLOW BARTHOLOMEW. This is verified by FreeBMD reference to marriage to Jane MAYNARD (in my tree).

Any ideas why he might have dropped the BARTHOLOMEW? His brother, who moved to Yorkshire, retained the Bartholomew. Their widowered father is living with another family in 1881 - we can't find Mark at all. Mark was a nurseryman and florist in 1901. All the children were registered as MARLOW at birth - would Mark have had to make some sort of legal declaration to change his name?

[Peter Goodey]

The question about documentation is a FAQ.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=176

As to "why?", that's for your research to uncover.

By the way, the GRO index shows the marriage as Mark Marlow BARTHOLOMEW, not Mark MARLOW BARTHOLOMEW. What does the certificate look like?

The marriage entry corresponds to the birth entry in Sep 1858.

I would hazard a guess that the reason was the classical one ie that there was illegitimacy involved and that MARLOW was the name of his father. Do you not have the birth certificate?

[Peter Goodey]

Also I can see Mark M BARTHOLOMEW in the 1861 census so it seems he wasn't consistently shown as MARLOW.

It looks at a quick glance as if all his siblings were registered as 'Something Marlow BARTHOLOMEW'.

[Davran]

Sorry, Peter, I confused the issue by capitalising the Marlow part of the name. He wasn't known as MARLOW until after his marriage. 1891 census lists the family as MARLOW - no-one seems to be able to find the family in 1881. His father was John Marlow BARTHOLOMEW, so it is obviously a continuing middle name. I will leave it up to my newly-found 'cousin' to pursue certificates as it is his direct line of descent. It was his grandmother who provided the BARTHOLOMEW part of the story, so perhaps she may have more information. I'll have a look at the link you provided - you are always a source of help!!