Change of Surname

[katenichols]

Hi, I am wondering if I would be able to find out when an ancestor changed his surname?

He is Edward Noble, born approx 1851 in Blackburn, by 1871 he is living in Carlisle and in 1874 marries Mary Lightfoot in Carlisle using the name Edward Noble Robinson. I know his father was a Martin Noble, but have no idea why he changed his name.
Are there any records for that period I am able to check? I have no idea how to start looking, and would appreciate any help at all.

Thanks
Kate

[Mythology]

It is highly unlikely that there will be any record of this.

These days, when we are bogged down by red tape from birth to death, most people who change their name do go through some sort of formal procedure in order to avoid hassle with banks, social security etc., who want "proof" of the name change. There is, however, no legal requirement for this - the way you change your name is simply by *using* a new one.

In the period you're looking at, very few people bothered with any sort of formal process whatsoever, so I wouldn't hold out much hope. However, if you wish to give it a try, THIS PAGE (http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecatal ogue%2Enationalarchives%2Egov%2Euk%2Fleaflets%2Fri 2250%2Ehtm&lBack=-1) from the National Archives explains things better than I could.
The Phillimore & Fry index which they refer to is also available on CD - a local record office may have a copy.

[Chasing Caseys]

Hi Kate

My grandfathers birth name was Gray. Somewhere between birth and school admittance it was changed to Donaldson (same changes with his christian and middle name).It was a surprise to most of us to learn that our sir name might be different from the one we have. I have not found so far any formal records for this change. I suspect the more family connections you find you might find the reason why your ancestors name changed.
A lot of clues for me came about by an uncle who had a lot of letters (dating from late 1800,s to 1930,s) a few years after i started my searching, hopefully you will be as lucky.

Tracey Donaldson - possibly Gray ;)

[johnpritt]

Is it possible that his father died and his mother remarried (to a Mr Robinson) sometime between his birth and his marriage? It could be that if he was (sort of) adopted by his step-father that he might take his family name.

[Geoffers]

Hi, I am wondering if I would be able to find out when an ancestor changed his surname? He is Edward Noble, born approx 1851 in Blackburn, by 1871 he is living in Carlisle and in 1874 marries Mary Lightfoot in Carlisle using the name Edward Noble Robinson.
Have you been able to trace Edward NOBLE's birth/baptism and the marriage of his parents? (that's if his parents married).

He may possibly have been born illegit and began using his mother's maiden name when he found out.

Geoffers

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

Hi, I am wondering if I would be able to find out when an ancestor changed his surname?
Thanks
Kate

I asked this same question a few years back ....... someone explained things to me too. I have a birth cert in the name of Frederick GRANT (no Father shown and Grant was his Mother's maiden name.)

Two years after he was born, he was baptised Frederick James GRANT, he married for the first time using this name, but he started calling himself Frederick James SALMON in 1881. Two years later, he married again using the name Frederick James GRANT-SALMON, left a Will and signed it twice with these last two names. From then up to the present day, all the males in the family call themselves GRANT-SALMON and now I'm stuck with it as well! :D

[Peter Goodey]

As Geoffers says, this sort of situation often strongly suggests illegitimacy or possibly the mother's remarriage. I've also come across cases where the stepfather's name is shown on the marriage certificate as 'father'. Of course, it's also possible for the father's name to be totally spurious!

I wonder of the family were consistent in using the name Robinson in subsequent censuses, birth registrations etc? I've come across one case where they seemed to alternate between surnames from one event to the next.

These things are sent to try us ;) . Edward Noble/Robinson's birth is likely to be the key to understanding what happened.

[LynA]

Hi, I am wondering if I would be able to find out when an ancestor changed his surname?


I've also got an ancestor with a name change:
He was born the illegitimate son of Sarah JEROME in 1856 and registered and baptised as Charles JEROME.
In 1872 he joined the Navy as Charles SPENCER
Married in 1879 as JEROME
Registered his daughter as Rosina JEROME in 1881
Registered another daughter (my grandmother) as Alice SPENCER in 1892.
Shown on Census 1861 as JEROME. 1871 - 1901 as SPENCER
As far as we know used the name SPENCER for rest of life. When he and his wife died (as SPENCER) none of his children knew about the name JEROME at all. Even Rosina thought the JEROME on her birth certificate was a mistake of the midwife who registered the birth!

I finally found that his mother Sarah married William Spencer in 1863, so SPENCER was his step father's name. I suppose we'll never know why he reverted to JEROME for his marriage.

Regards, Lynda

[katenichols]

Thanks for all the replies, I expect when I finally find his birth, all MAY be revealed!

Kate

[Peter Goodey]

Good luck. Unfortunately if Edward NOBLE/ROBINSON was born around 1851, that's a bit of a dead period for FreeBMD, so I guess the actual GRO indexes would be a better bet.