Genealogy Chat

Can anyone help please? We all know that women go down in the family tree by their maiden name and are buried in their married but what about men changing their name late in life. I have a PAF 5 program and don't want furture generations of my family getting confused. My Father married 4 times it's the forth that is the problem . He has no decendence from that marriage but because they had lived together for 20 years before their marriage and everyone believed them man and wife he had changed his name to her first married name which everyone knew them by. Problem is born one name died another not normal for a man and very confusing on a tree program. How do I solve this on a tree program? Maureen

Sorry, Maureen, I dont know how to help you. But, are you a Holden of Lancashire? Holden was my maiden name and I have a vast database now of Holdens. And many, many gaps! Dont suppose your relly was James Holden was he? Good luck! Marjorie

Maureen, My grandfather changed his name although I dont know why. I use PAF too, I have entered him as Muxlow/Harrison,until I find the correct way.

Hi Maureen Another Holden here but the West Bromwich Clan. Can you not do what June recommends as he was also known as??? It is very unusual surely for men to change their names, unless they are hiding something, or like your rellie. Pat x

Dear Margorie Many thanks for the message. I'm afraid my Holden's come from West Sussex back to the 1700's and some went through London. The name Holden comes from the North and sometime I might find myself searching there, if I ever get back that far. But that doesn't matter really we all belong to the Holden Clan don't we. Good Luck with your research Maureen

Dear June Many thanks for the advice, I had thought of that but didn't thing the PAF program would expect it. Now I am going to do it and hopefully future generations won't get confused. With both names there they should be able to figure it out. Plus I have explained it in the notes but people might not look there. Many thanks once again and good luck with your research. Maureen

Dear Pat Hello one Holden to another we seem to be all over the country don't we. I know the name Holden is from the north but one must have travelled south for mine come from West Sussex back to the early 1700's some have escaped to London, Essex, Surrey, America and Australia. We get around don't we. Well good luck with your research and regards from one Holden to another, I am taking June's advice many thanks for the message. Maureen

Dear June I have found where to put the other name. Go to his details go down to botton section to the (known as) part. Been searching the PAF help and that come under aliases. Good Luck. Maureen

Maureen The Holdens travelled alright. Some of mine were gracious enough to stay in the one street for over sixty years!!! (very handy doing a census for them), but the others went to America, Australia and another to Ireland??? Yes I think you are right it is mostly a Northern name, years ago someone told me it came originally from Germany but I have found the Old English meaning states it means "Hollow"? I tell you they have been much easier to research than the other names in my family. Good Luck Pat x

When me and my husband married he took me surname instead of me taking his surname. We are both in our second marriages, and as we already have seven kids between us we were deffinately not going to have any more. I have solved this by putting us both down in our maiden names, and then have added in the notes about the name change. I have also put into the notes the reasons behind our decision, in order to explain the different name on our death certificates when the time comes.