Genealogy Chat

I have some people in my tree from about this time who have double-barreled surnames, taking their mother's maiden name as a middle name come first half of a surname. I am wondering whether this is a reasonably common practise as, I have children who have double barreled surnames covering a period of about 60 years. My supposition is therefore should I look for a marriage between the supposed maiden name and my tree name as parentage to link these double barreled people? Suggestions and assistance please!!!!!

I have Scottish relatives that gave their children (especially it seems their sons), the mothers maiden name as a middle name. I dont have any English relatives that done this though. BUT, i do have one relative that has her fathers name as a middle name, she was illegitimate though

Lindsey Um, sometimes these double barrelled names suggest illegitimacy - born in mother's maiden name, added the name of the birth father as the first part of the surname. But obviously it can also be as you say, a straightforward double barrelled name. The answer is, I am afraid, that you will have to look for records using either or both names in your searches. Birth certs are probably the first thing to get in these cases. OC

I don't have any as early as this, but doesn't mean to say there were none! All my double barrelled people except one were all single surnamed until 1901, but changed before 1920. Many, many people had a surname as a middle name well before this (in my tree from the early to mid 1700's), but in all records such as baps/burials.marriages and GRO indexes, they are listed under the last surname. ie William Lyon CLARK and his ancestors are listed under Clark until 1907. From then on he is listed under L as LYON CLARK (no hyphen). Lyon was his paternal grandmother's maiden name. Merry

I have an illegitimate child in my tree who uses the father's name as a middle name followed by the mother's name. Stella