Genealogy Chat

We have been told that an ancestor may have changed his name. We only know his 'new' name and it isn't clear whether he changed both his christian and surname or just his surname. Is there any way we can check this out and confirm whether this is true? Suggestions very welcome. Annette

Some of them are shown in the London Gazette. It depends on date. It's available online at www*gazellets-online*.co*.uk (change * to .) Jim what info do you have on him?

Thanks Jim, I'll take a look. We think we have a DOB. 2 different members of the family have said that he was born on 31st October 1864. Unfortunately we don't know where he was born (possible links with Yorkshire or Durham). The name we know him by is John Thomas Hibbert (from marriage and death certificates and also family). We know where he lived from 1902 until his death in 1941. He's a bit of a mystery! Thanks for your help, Annette

You'll find oodles of discussions about change of name if you put something like Name Change in the search box. In essence anybody can call themselves whatever they like without needing to register it. Sometimes it's done officially by Deed Poll. If a woman remarried between censuses her children are often shown with the surname of the new husband. This happened twice to one of my rellies, who eventually married using her 'proper' maiden name.

The National Archives has a research page about name changes, including information about deed polls. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/guide/ancestorslaw/name.htm But its quite likely that ordinary folk wouldn't have bothered with any legal formalities. My husband's great-grandfather, Charles Albert Carter was unable to get a birth cert from the GRO - and the reason was, although he didn't know this - that he was registered as Charles Albert McCarthy. His father was Denis McCarthy and he became James McCarthy and then James Carter for reasons unknown. Some of his children married as McCarthy and he had one son, still a McCarthy, living next door to him when he was calling himself Carter!

Have you looked for him on the 1901? Don't assume that the name change is for a grand reason. My grandfather is on the 1901 under the surname Mitchell. He later changed his name back to Tocqueville but for the census he'd taken his stepfather's surname. I guess it was just easier if a woman remarried to give all the kids the same name as herself.

I have searched for him on the 1901 but found nothing that fits with the info I have. Thanks also to John, Helen & Janet Annette

What was his father's name - and occupation - on his marriage cert? Jill