Genealogy Chat

Hi I have had a name change in my family too. The last family history fair I went to the Soc of Geoealogists were there and offering advise. I asked why my gentleman would change his name back to his mothers maiden name. I was told to look at the petty sessions to see if there was anything there that could help or it could be as simple as another rellie asking them to use that name to inherit some money. Still haven't found a concrete reason yet but I am working on it. Best of luck Karen

I pity anyone trying to trace my family years from now. I changed my maiden name by deed poll to that of my step father. My two daughters have also had their names changed after I split from their father, so they also have my stepfathers name as does my son. Now that's confusing. Jo

I have this too - partly due to Irish accents in the west of Scotland, illiterate ancestors and possibly just to annoy me. At some point before his marriage, my great grandfather changed his name to 'Dick' - his mothers maiden name, she died when he was about 2 yrs old. He had been registered with the name McGaroch although his father's name was McGarrichie or McGarrachie, or McGarrity. His brother kept the name McGarrachie throughout his life despite being registered as a 'McGarroch'. I've yet to find out why.....

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. It's certainly made me curious and I will be delving deeper into this puzzle. Jo

I had this too. It was all thanks to an illegitimate child. He was born Robert JACOBS in 1873 Mile End LONDON. Married and died as Henry Thomas RIVERS. If it wasn't for the fact in the 1901 census hew was living with 3 woman ( one his mother, which one we still don't know lol) called JACOBS we wouldn't have known. He was with them in the 1891too. Then in 1881 he was Robert JACOBS. Made us doubt our family history abilities as for the longer we thought about it the longer we couldn't see the wood from the trees. He was the same age, born the same place and yet simple now. Much Happiness Debi

You might try looking for a will for the parents of the 1834 birth, or see if they had any other children. We have just resolved a 20years search by following the clue 'including my natural son, Thomas DAVIS'. Thomas was baptised and married as Davis, and his first child was baptised a Davis, (buried 8 years later with family's later surname) but within the next few years Thomas' 2nd child was baptised with a completely different surname,- that of Thomas' father, who wrote the will.

Maybe something murkey happened to the family and they changed their name to avoid the shame? Someone who works with my mother said this happened in their family in the last century after a murder. Alternatively they may have just faniced a change- like someone I used to work with! Cheers Julie T:)

I have just found out that a family in my tree who I have as JOHNS started out as LEWIS. From 1891 onwards they are listed as JOHNS. James JOHNS was born James LEWIS in 1834 and he married Mary TRAIS so It wasn't her surname. The 1871 and 1881 has them as *name* J. LEWIS, so I am assuming they called themselves JOHNS LEWIS. What I don't seem to be able to find out is where the Johns comes into it and why they dropped the LEWIS. Any ideas most welcome. Jo