Genealogy Chat

I have an ancestor called Lenora Cockrell. Her birth is reg in 1869, and on 1837 it is shown as Lenora Cockrell, 1869, Lambeth. No middle name then, and nor is there on the census returns from 1871-1901. But on her marriage certificate from 1891, which I have, it shows Lenora Buckler Cockrell! There are no Bucklers in the family that I know of, and her parents are Lavinia Huddy and Frederick Augustus Cockrell. She was only married the once, this I am sure of as she is 22 and a spinster on the marriage cert. Any ideas on this strange added middle name???

Have you got the actual birth certificate? My grandad had a "strange" middle name (Loveday - his mother's mother's maiden name I discovered) on his birth certificate, but it isn't mentioned anywhere else. Also his two sons had never heard of it. His brother had a "strange" first name Craven - I'm still trying to get to the bottom of that one! Another brother had Weir (from another relative).

I haven't ordered the actual certificate yet, is it possible it has the middle name when the 1837 transcription doesn't? Haven't found Lavinia Huddy's parents yet either, but will probably be ordering some certificates this week as I have reached a fair few brick walls! The only other thing I can think of with Lenora is that Frederick Cockrell and Lavinia Huddy didn't marry till 1873, so although her surname is registered as Cockrell could be possible she has a different father? She is the eldest child of Lavinia. Fredk and Lavinia are living together in 1871 though, and they have rather dishonestly said they are married when I know they weren't till 1873!

My great grandfather had the middle name of Curry (which seems very strange!). It is mentioned on my grandfathers birth certificate, but not in the 1901 census or my great grandfathers wedding certificate. I haven't got his birth certificate yet, so I don't know whether it appears there. But its seems to come and go as to whether he used it on the day! At first I thought that it must be a different person, but I have now confirmed that it's the same person. Vicky

I had a similar case with my great-grandfather - I was expecting the name to be a mother or grandmother's maiden name but he turned out to have been named after his aunt's husband. Regards, Hannah

I have just ordered Lavinia Huddy's birth certificate, so hopefully once I have that I can research her family, and shed some light on who the original Buckler was! I think it is likely to be someone else's surname added as a middle name for posterity, seems a fairly common practice in the 19th century.

my grt gran had the middle name of Wiseman! l still haven't found her birth cert. or her parents marriage cert., but when she registered my gran she put her full name down . On all the census she just used the initial. l think it might be her mums name or her fathers original surname. maureen

My gg-gfather had a strange middle name - he was James STRANGE Burns! No idea where it came from.

Hi all My head teacher at primary school's middle name was Jolly. She certainly wasn't! She told us that from her village there was a family who had handed down the middle name Cheery (not sure of the spelling!) Well, I thought it was quite amusing at the time! Lynne

Maybe she added it to get in the good books for an inheritance? I've got one who dropped half his double barrelled name when his brother got had labour in New Zealand for fencing stolen goods! Jacquie