Genealogy Chat

On my husband's great-grandfather's death certificate, it staes he was illegitimate and the "reputed" father was Donald Mclean. Does reputed mean it was just a name the mother gave when she registered the birth? Or did he admit to being the father even though they weren't married? Help! Patsy

I think reputed means that's the man everyone thinks was the father, but can't prove it.

Hi Patsy Helen is right. I was born illegitimately and subsequently adopted - my birth father is not named on my birth certificate because he denied paternity and wasn't married to my birth mother. She was therefore not permitted legally to name him on my birth cert. However, he is named in my birth records and is referred to as the 'putative' father, which is the same as 'reputed' - the one who is thought to be the father. Best wishes, Mandy :)

Hi Mandy "Putative" used to be used for adoptees in birth records even when the father acknowledged paternity and was recorded on the birth certificate if that makes you feel any better :) David

IN 1835 when the first daughter of my Gt Grandparents was born the baptism entry said Ellen daughter of Lucy reputed father Jonathon they were both teenagers A few months later they ran away and got married So possibly Jonathon went to the baptism Bren

Hi David Thanks for that, I didn't realise that a 'definite' father could still be 'putative'! Best wishes, Mandy :)

Thanks everyone. Doesn't help with establishing who great-grandad's father really was, but at least I know what reputed means now! Patsy