Bowles/ Deane name change

[patricias@qisu.org.au]

Hi to everyone,

Is there someone who may have a clue as to why a person would change his surname from Bowles to Deane. He came from a good family with money because on the wedding certificate his occupation is donw as inderpendent means.
Thanks
Patricia

[Geoffers]

Is there someone who may have a clue as to why a person would change his surname from Bowles to Deane.
Have you been able to trace his birth/baptism - was he illegitimate?

Did he father die and his mum re-marry whilst he was young? If so, maybe he grew up using his step-dad's name and chanegd to his birth surname later?

Geoffers

[patricias@qisu.org.au]

He lived with both parents till 1901 census then was living with the Older brother. I havent found his mother remarrying yet. He didnt change his name till 1904 before he married my great grandmother and both names were written on the marriage cert. with occ as living on own means.
So I dont have a lot and no one is around anymore to help me.
Patricia

[Procat]

I had a great uncle who was born out of wedlock.

His Birth Certificate has his surname under the maiden name of his mother.

She married a couple of years later and he took on his step fathers surname.

Late in life he changed (by Deed Poll) his surname to that which he believed to be his natural fathers.

As to whether he was correct has gone to the grave with him and his mother.

[Geoffers]

He lived with both parents till 1901 census then was living with the Older brother.
In that case, I would guess he was born before his parents married; one surname is that of his father and t'other is probably his mother's maiden name - have you obtained his parents' marriage certificate?

Geoffers

[Wirral]

On a more optimistic note, he may have inherited money from a Deane, with the proviso that he change his name. This was sometimes done to preserve a family name if it was about to die out. Are there any well-off Deanes in the area in the 1901 census? Although if the families were well-off, then it could be a distant relative.

[patricias@qisu.org.au]

Hi everyone and thank you for the help. It has given me food for thought. I dont have the parents marriage certificate yet and having the money left to him is a very interesting idea I never thought of that. My great grandmother was an actress and the whole family were in the theatre too. I think he may have met her through some contection with the theatre. The other thing is my Uncle has an old snuff box with the the names of my gg grandmother and received from a Lady Mansell. Maybe this is a clue. The the family wealth??? Does anyone have any ideas or heard of the Mansell family name in the Middlesex or London area. Middlesex is the area that Frances Bowles/Deane came from.
Look forward to your reply
Patricia