Genealogy Chat

Hi
Can anyone help me?
My father was born in 1934 illegitimately surname McHugh and father unknown on birth certificate. His mother married in 1935 and husband's name was Quinn. He may or may not have been the father. By the time my mother met him in the early 50's he was known as Quinn and his name on their marriage certificate was James McHugh Quinn. I know that nowadays you can change your name by deed poll but would he have had to have been adopted then to use the surname Quinn?

You only have to use a name for non illegal purposes for it to be acceptable. The fact that he has mums name in the middle there suggests to me he wasnt adopted officially not changed his name by deed poll

If the husband Quinn was the father, one would think that perhaps the birth certificate would be ammended after the mother married.
As Heather suggests, James may have just taken the name of his stepfather by usage.
You could check the adoption register to see whether a James QUINN was adopted in the years between the 1935 marriage and his own marriage.
This won't show which family adopted any child, but the right name in a suitable area might make it more probable that it was your family.

Gwyn

Thanks for the replies

Hi Lorraine

Have you tried looking in the marriages for both McHugh and Quinn.

I have a family member who was born 'M' but when he was a child his name was informally changed to 'S'

However, when he married it is listed twice on GRO both in M and S with the same ref and page no.

Hope this helps.