Genealogy Chat

Hi peeps, does anyone know if, in around 1895-1900 what you would have to have done to change your surname or if you could just call yourself something else.
My grandad dropped his surname and called himself by his second name. he was the only one in his family to do this.
It dosnt make any difference to my research but was just wondering about it.
Thanks
Ann. ;-)

You can call yourself any name you want as long as its not to defraud.

You can just make your chosen name known without going through any legal formalities .

Some children took the surname of a stepfather when their mum married or remarried and were known and married in the new name and known by that name on all records.

Just change the surname.Exactly the same happened in my family.

My grandfather's middle name was the surname of his father but previously he and all his sibling had the surname of the husband of their mother- if that makes sense. He appears to have changed it prior to his marriage in 1905.. All his sisters kept their original surname but obviously it changed when they got married. On my tree I have entered my grandfather with his later surname and all his sisters with their registered name. -jl

Thanks Shirley & Janet.
At least Im not the only one with this in their family.It just makes me wonder why he changed it.His fathers name was Dart so nothing bad about that as far as I can imagine.My maiden name was Tucker so as you can imagine I got called lots of things!!!! but would never have thought of changing it. ;-)

Here is more information on the subject:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/change-of-name.htm

Thank you Jeremy,
very interesting reading.
Ann ;-)