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I have puzzled for a long time regarding my grandfather who doesn't appear on various censuses! I was searching Stephen Brennan. I just found on family search.org a Stephanus Brennan born 2/11/1892 (exactly right!) and Christened in a local church so this must be him. Now when I put that name into this genes reunited search engine it throws up no one. Why is this? Any ideas. His father is Stephani brennan. Why would people have such names in Northern England at that time? And also having Irish ancestry? Grateful for any experts thoughts on this

Was the family Roman Catholic?
They normally use the Latin version of Christian names at baptism

Where was he born? Do you have his birth certificate and if not how do you know his exact date of birth?

Kath. x

Is this the family in the 1911 census:-

First name(s) Last name Relationship to household head Marital condition Gender Age Birth year Birth place Occupation

Stephen Brennan Head Married Male 65 1846 Newcastle on Tyne Steelworks
Catherine Brennan Wife Married Female 53 1858 Newcastle on Tyne Northumberland -
Juila Brennan Daughter Single Female 21 1890 Newcastle on Tyne -
Mary Brennan Daughter Single Female 23 1888 Newcastle on Tyne -
Stephen Brennan Son Single Male 18 1893 Newcastle on Tyne Steelworks<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Alice Brennan Daughter Single Female 15 1896

Address:- 62 Oak Street Newcastle upon Tyne, Elswick, Northumberland

Kath. x

We need Patricia to come back and let us know how she knows her grandfather's exact date of birth without a birth certificate as the Lancashire one found is 14 years earlier than the date she gives for her grandfather's birth.

Kath. x

That birth and death can't be Patricia's grandfather if he died aged 4.

Kath. x

Oh dear, Kath, I hadn't noticed that I had the wrong DOB. Thanks for pointing that out.

This one then?


England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 about Stephanus Brennan
Name: Stephanus Brennan
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 2 Nov 1892
Baptism Date: 22 Dec 1892
Baptism Place: St Dominic, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England
Father: Stephani Brennan
Mother: Catharinae Cullen Brennan
FHL Film Number: 1936943
Reference ID: p 421 n 2148

That's much more likely Margee - although I can't find a birth that corresponds with the baptism.

EDIT - I wonder if his mother perhaps went back to Ireland to give birth to him and then came back to England to have him baptised???

Kath. x

But they were all born Newcastle according to the 1911 census.

Just to let you know, I have just deleted my posts with the wrong Stephanus.

I also can't find his birth on FreeBMD.

Births Dec 1892 (>99%)
Brennen Stephen Newcastle T. 10b 170

That looks like the one Astra.

Kath. x

Good one, Astra!

Why didn't we think of a different spelling, Kath?

1901 England Census about Stephen Bruman
Name: Stephen Bruman
Age: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1893
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Father: Stephen Bruman
Mother: Catherine Bruman
Birth Place: Newcastle, Northumberland, England
Civil Parish: Jarrow
Ecclesiastical parish: Jarrow Grange Christchurch
County/Island: Durham
Country: England
Registration district: South Shields
Sub-registration district: Jarrow
ED, institution, or vessel: 17
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4742
Folio: 11
Page Number: 13
Household schedule number: 76
Household Members:
Name Age
Stephen Bruman 50
Catherine Bruman 43
Annie Bruman 20
Mary E Bruman 17
Julia Bruman 13
Stephen Bruman 8

This one says parents born Walker, Northumberland, first daughter Annie born Byker, Northumberland, others born Newcastle.

One would imagine Patricia knows the DOB because she knew her grandfather, or at least has been told the date by one of her parents

His death?

BRENNAN STEPHEN 1892 1963 1963 Deaths & burials Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England

The DOB is on that christening record that I posted.

A long shot for the father

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Scotch Row, Walker, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England

Learn more

Print transcription View image Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
David Hickey Head Married Male 26 1835 Labourer In Iron Works Ireland Transcription
Mary Hickey Wife Married Female 24 1837 - Ireland Transcription
Steaven Browman Lodger Unmarried Male 16 1845 Labourer In Iron Works Ireland Transcription
Ellen Browman Lodger Unmarried Female 22 1839 - Ireland Transcription


IMAGE is BRENNAN

Corrections submitted

So it is, Margee....

Although Patricia does say in her post that the record is 'exactly right' which implies other knowledge

Looks like same family in 1891 but father not there and Catherine says born Ireland.


1891 England Census about Catherine Brannen
Name: Catherine Brannen
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Ireland
Civil Parish: Byker
Ecclesiastical parish: St Michaels
Town: Newcastle
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England
Registration district: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sub registration district: Byker
ED, institution, or vessel: 26
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4216
Folio: 64
Page Number: 26
Household Members:
Name Age
Catherine Brannen 33
Mary Ellen Brannen 6
Julia Brannen 3
Annie Brannen 10

Original also has Mary Brennan, 70, widow, born Ireland.

I don't think that the birthplace info in later censuses is accurate with regard to the parents