Genealogy Chat

Probably a stupid question, but how likely is it that the father would be named on the birth cert of an illegitimate child, circa 1880? Angela

There's a slim chance the father could be named on the baptism record. Cheers, Lynn

Hi Wendy That's what I expected. Has anybody got a birth cert for an illegitimate that does state the father's name? The reason I ask is that one of her middle names is the surname of her mother's cousins (if you see what I mean!) Why would she have been given that name? Angela

Lynn Thanks, that's a possibility I hadn't thought of. Georgina Thanks for that, it's just that I didn't want to order a birth cert for it to tell me what I already know. Angela

I have a birth cert, it has fathers name and the same surname for the mother the mothers maiden name as if they had married, but I know they never married she was illigitimate. So it seems sometimes the fathers name is on even if unmarried.

thanks valerie, it seems the only way i'll know is to buy the cert! Angela

I am sure I read on here somewhere, providing the father wanted it and was present at the registration of the birth he could be on the birth cert

Even tho the birth was registered in mother's surname? I've found mother on 1881 but not baby, although birth was registered 09/1880. Could they have lied about having a baby in the house? Angela

i have had this problem twice, no father on birth certificate, but fortunately both were given the fathers surname as their middle name. then as if someone was watching down on me, both women named their fathers on their own marriage certificate, correct surnames as their middle names, and no it wasn't their step fathers names either.............. so think i've been pretty lucky with those 2 !! Jane x

English Law has always stated that the father of an illegitimate child cannot be named on a Birth Certificate UNLESS He is present at the Registration. He swears an Affidavit (useful for Members of the Armed Forces, who might be away on manoeuvres) Many disgruntled single women got round this little obstacle by Pretending to a gullible Registrar that they were married. OR (favourite) giving the child two first names, the second of which was the father's surname. Sort of cocking a snook and saying 'Hey, world, I DO know who the father of my child is'. But you cant always guarantee that an unusual second forename IS that of the father - sometimes its Granny's maiden name, in an effort to appease her! Olde Crone

Angela my nan and grandad had a baby about 8 weeks before the 1901 census but they never mentioned her on the census at all. Often wonder why.

thanks for all your replies. I probably won't ever know the answer to this one. Trouble is, one of the cousins was my great grandfather, who may've been the father of this illegitimate, which would make her a closer relation than it would seem at first (if you see what I mean!) Oh well, on with the search! Angela

i dont know about in england,(although im english of scottish descent) but even if the child is illegitimate the fathers name can be added on the registration as was done on the registration of my gt gt grandfathers birth.this was added by the mother who wanted it declared though they werent married. jackie

If the child's middle name is the same as the mother's cousin's surname, could that not just mean that the child's mother's mother was a sister to the father of these cousins and therefore had the same maiden name herself. That way the middle name of the illegitimate child would be just given because it was it's grandmother's maiden name. I know this sounds complicated now I've written it down, but at least I understand what I mean, lol. Kath. x

Kathleen I do follow what you're saying, but the grandmothers were sisters! Angela

Oh well, that knocks that theory on it's head, !!! Kath. x

My great grandparents had 9 illegitimate children - all registered under the father's name. How? When G grandma & G grandpa moved to the area, they pretended they were married, so g grandma's surname on the birth certificates is the same as g grandpa's. Also had a widow Evans with two 'Evans' children and a lodger called Doutch in 1851. In 1852 Widow Evans had a daughter christened Mary Doutch Evans, father stated as Doutch (lodger). They were still together (though unmarried) in 1861. Widow Evans died in 1865, and by 1871 Doutch the lodger had married someone else. maggie