Genealogy Chat

Julie, Yes the surname might have been misheard by the registrar when the birth was originally registered. But as it is quite hard to say Mary Ann Soden so that it sounds like Mary Ann Dodden (unless perhaps you have a very bad cold!) I wonder if the name was spelt correctly in the original register but then copied wrongly at a later date - a poorly written cursive S could look like a D. If you have a GRO copy it might be worth checking with the local superintendant registrar's office to see if they will look at their copy of the register and see if the name was Sodden.

I had a lot of difficulty tracing a family from a birth certificate...mother gave her maiden name as Fairwall.........possibly the way she pronounced it.....her actual name was Thirlwall

Like Nell, I have mistakes on all of these documents, and on headstones. All the information is given or recorded by human beings and there is always scope for human error. Kath. x

Any record can be wrong! Either on the original document or on a transcription or index. I've got mistakes on censuses, certificates, gravestones, electoral rolls....

She's Mary Ann Soden in the GRO marriage index. This seems to be right -- taking age and birthplace from 1861, there's a Mary Ann Soden at Kingswinford/Brierley Hill in 1851 who fits, and her christening in IGI (1837 Brierley Hill)

Angela that is my point aswell, My grandmother x 2s mother is recorded as dodden, but i am sure that is incorrect but can't find any record to prove otherwise apart from LDS marriage... and well that is not always correct either.. Julie

Gwyneth That reminds me, I have a child registered as Henry Francis Campbell Ritchie, who was really Emily Frances Campbell Ritchie! Declaration is listed on the cert forty years after the birth! Mother signed with an x on original birth cert, so obviously didn't realise at the time. Angela

I have the birth cert of a 'girl' who was really a boy. Mother was illiterate and registrar probably misheard the first name. Anything is possible. I posted a thread once about all the certificates I have with wrong information. Gwyn

Julie Logically I would say yes. I have an illiterate ancestor whose christian name is variously, Ann Norah & Honoria! Angela

Referring to last thread... Can surnames also be mistranscribed on Birth certs if the person registering the birth is illiteriate? Julie