Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

surname changes?

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

jeannie

jeannie Report 9 Apr 2007 04:13

i have a 2 families who have had one child before marriage, registered under mothers name. they then appear to take the fathers name for the rest of their lives ie census, marriage, death. Was there legal adoption in those days or an understanding that you just took the name that you were told?

Researching:
McGeorge, Smiles, Brewerton- Sunderland. Rycroft, Smith-Yorkshire. Lumsden, Prentice - Scotland. Ellis, Jeffries, Short - NZ.

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 9 Apr 2007 06:08

Adoption as a legal process was begun in England and Wales on 1 January 1927. Anyone 'adopted' before that date was really fostered. There was nothing to stop people calling their children by whatever name they chose. I have some who took the fathers name when they were young, but reverted to their mother's by the time they married, Anything is possible.

*Sharm

*Sharm Report 9 Apr 2007 07:24

hi my ggreatgrandfathers mother married 4 years after he was born but he never took on his stepfathers surname, even though they never had anymore children. The only time he used his stepfathers name was to register his death as he was the informant. scarlettxxxx

Penny

Penny Report 9 Apr 2007 08:11

before 1927 people were adopted , it just that it wasn't a formal legal process.the word ADOPTED implied guardianship. Dr Banardos did arrange adoption prior to 1927