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Birth records

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Sandra

Sandra Report 9 Nov 2009 15:07

Ive just started to research my family tree, finding it interesting but quite frustrating too and wondered if anyone could help with my question relating to birth records. When the mothers maiden name is showing the same as the childs does this mean she wasnt married and is this common as far back as the 1900's?
Thanks for your help and any other advice you feel you can offer to make searching the records easier.

Thelma

Thelma Report 9 Nov 2009 15:13

I have several marriages where the woman's married name is the same as her maiden.So you cannot assume an illigitimate birth.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- England & Wales, Marriage Index: 1916-2005

Frederick Cozens Cozens Jul-Aug-Sep 1922 South Stoneham Hampshire
View Record
Harriet Cozens Cozens Jul-Aug-Sep 1922 South Stoneham Hampshire
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Daniel J Cozens Schielin Or Cozens Apr-May-Jun 1960 Southampton Hampshire
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Hilda E Cozens Cozens Apr-May-Jun 1960 Southampton Hampshire
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Aileen Cozens Cozens Jul-Aug-Sep 1972 Southampton Hampshire
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Peter J Cozens Cozens Jul-Aug-Sep 1972 Southampton Hampshire

Barbara

Barbara Report 9 Nov 2009 15:16

You would have to weigh it up with other evidence such as the father's name on the birth certificate, if the same on all childrens certs. If you can find a marriage etc. But yet, there were a lot of out of wedlock births going way back!

mgnv

mgnv Report 9 Nov 2009 23:02

In 1901, the illegitimacy rate was 3.9% in ENG/WAL, although there was a fair amount of variability from county to county.

Source: Sixty-fourth annual report of the registrar-general Page xv
Via: http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/Browse?path=Browse/Registrar%20General%20%28by%20date%29&active=yes&titlepos=130

Thelma

Thelma Report 10 Nov 2009 11:32

Good find mgnv.
Without my ancestors it would only be 2.9%

Sandra

Sandra Report 10 Nov 2009 11:47

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. I think I have now managed to trace one of my grandparents who I was told was adopted but no-one in the family has any details. So it would all tie in with what I have managed to find. Its all very interesting!
Thanks again.

Janet 693215

Janet 693215 Report 10 Nov 2009 19:19

That statistic of 3.9% refers to those born out of wedlock.

In my tree about 90% of the mothers were pregnant when they got married!