Genealogy Chat

Hi all,

Wondering if someone could please give me some ideas here.

I have a Samuel McCall born 30.07.1883 in Barrhead, Renfrew to Thomas McCall and Agnes McCall nee Buchanan. His birth certificate gives him the name of Samuel, no second name.

His marriage certificate to Annie Higgins in Paisley 31.12.1917 gives his name as Samuel McCall. No second name stated.

Samuel then died 25.02.1956 in Paisley, however his death certificate now refers to him as Samuel Manderson McCall.

Can anyone think of a reason why a new name would have been entered? The informant on the death certificate was his son Charles is it likely he would have made a mistake or the registrar could have made a mistake when entering the details?

If Samuel genuinely added a second name, is there somewhere I should look that will tell me he did this? Does anyone know if this was a common practice then?

Any ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks

Rachelle

Have you checked the censuses to see if he has a second initial or name on there? Have you found a baptism for him?


It is very common to find only one name on a birth certificate, and then for the child to be given a second forename at baptism

........ but it is usual then for that second name to be used elsewhere at some time!

I have seen cases where the second name was not used on a marriage certitificate ....... it isn't a rule that you have to use all your names.

In fact, you don't have to use any of your names if it really comes down to it

....... 'cos you don't show any documentation to the vicar to prove you are who you say you are.



sylvia

My grandfather was named Edward on his birth, marriage and death certificates but on my father's marriage cert his name is given as Victor Edward.

Hi,

Thanks Sylvia.

Yep I checked the census records for him up to and including 1901and he was only listed as Samuel. It seems such an unusual name to add in I was just curious how it may have arisen!

Cheers

As its a Scots birth i bet one of the grandmothers was a Manderson.

My grandmother was Elizabeth Cochrane on birth, marriages etc but she was actually Elizabeth Smith Cochrane the Smith being her maternal grandmothers maiden name.

I have ancestors that often only have one name given for the Birth Registration but give a middle name for their Marriage or Death Registration or Baptism.

You might find that the Baptism gives the full name. Or it could be it was added as an afterthought.