Genealogy Chat

Hi, can anyone help please. I found in the census records my ggg grandparents, Amy C Newman (b 1801) married to John V Newman (b1795). They have used their middle intials in most censuses. For some reason, I think I found at some stage, that Amy's middle name was CURTIS but I can't now find this info now and can't remember where I got that from??? Can anyone shed any light?. Whilst searching for their deaths, only their first christian name is given in the registers ie plain Amy & John, which makes me wonder, are they given their mother's maiden names as middle names whilst growing up etc but perhaps at the time of their deaths only their official names are written in the registers ie Amy & John? Can anyone help with this part please?? I don't have their original birth info/names etc. As John was born 1700's and Amy 1801 can anyone tell me how do I go about obtaining or viewing their birth certs? Do I have to apply the the local parish where born, Or will I have to go to Kew? Hope someone can help shed some light. Thank you. Shirley-ann

Pre-1837, there was no such thing as a cert............the only records were of baptisms, marriages and burials kept by the Parishes. Using mother's maiden surname as a forename was a common practise......sometimes even g/mother's surname. It occurred especially when the child was conceived outside of wedlock........... Reg

Yes Shirley I have lots that have their Mothers maidens names (or Grandmothers) as middle names and it was very nice of them to be so helpful ! Sheila

IGI says John Newman married Amy Curtis Martin at Ipswich in 1821. If a middle name isn't on a death record, it doesn't mean it's unofficial, it might just mean that the person doing the registering doesn't know about the middle name or has forgotten it. No documentation has to be produced, and the person with the best knowledge of the facts is dead.

I have several people in my tree whose mother's or grandmothers' or even great-great-great grandmother's maiden name was used as a middle name. I also have illegitimate children whose father's surname was used as a middle name. I also have one branch of the family who used a maiden name as a first Christian name for male members of the family for centuries. But I don't think there are any hard and fast rules about it.