Genealogy Chat

Nudge for Janet

Going back to the original question, as far as I am aware when registering a death, the name on the birth certificate is used, however as already indicated, people get so used to their preferred name, their registered name may not be known.

I work in a hospital (interesting the comments re Cornwall, because Devon is much the same) and am amazed at the number of people who use a name other than their first name...however all medical notes/records are kept in their registered name i.e Peter John known as John would have notes as Peter John.

Hope this helps

My Great great grandfather was known as Jack Tonkin but when I'd been researching a while and couldn't find him I then found out he was actually John Alfred Knight Tonkin - Jack because of his initials!!!

My ancestors (mostly) originated from Cornwall and using the middle name is a real trend! Even my dad is known by his middle name not his first. It's always a treat when someone rings asking for David and we're all like 'who?' !!!

Laura

Thanks to Jolly Sailor for making me laugh out loud.

I spent ages looking for the death of my uncle Cyril until I discovered he was actually called Redvers - no idea where Cyril came from.

My dad was called Wyndham but when he came to London from Wales and joined the police force he was told his name was too difficult to pronounce and was always called by his middle name of David afterwards.

This is only surpassed by ancestors who choose to spell their surnames differently on each census.

Happy hunting everyone,

Lynn

My name is Pamela - my mother always called me Susie!

My elderly neighbour is Dorothea but goes by Erika coz she liked a flower called that and decided to use it. No one knows her as Dorothea really

My husband's grandmother was Ruth, but to her husbands framily she was always Jean. No one knows why, she always answered to Jean to the husbands family and never corrected them.


My grandfather was always known as Bob, and I thought he must have been Robert, but he was really Cecil Alfred Herbert, his brother Arthur Edmond Richard was known as Tom, and his sister was Dick (Edith Elsie).

I met someone who was introduced as Alan. However, his sister called him Bill.

He explained that he was christened Alan William (the names ran together better that way round), but his parents intended that he should be known as William (hence the Bill).

He changed schools when he was seven. The teacher asked him to introduce himself to the class - "hello, I'm Bill" - the teacher stopped him, told him not to tell fibs, and told the class he was called Alan - so from then on he was Alan to everyone except his family!

I have an Arthur William Jessie (always known as Wal) and a Derek known as Jimmer!

My GG Aunt Sarah Elizabeth was known as Aunt Sally and another sister was Aunt Sissy and I'm sure her name was something like Margaret!

Great-aunt May was known as May all her life, including on census records. She was registered and baptised with the names Sarah Ann, but married as May Sarah.

Jay

My OH is known as Ted but his birth name is Edward Arthur. My great grandmother was born Flora Ann, married as Florence and died as Florrie. Her husband was born Samuel but always known as Billy.


Deb:)

Yes i have found that myself.

For example my mom knows a Frederick.... cant find records for him but found one in James F and it turned out Frederick's father was also called James so thats why mom thought it was Frederick but it was in fact James.

Clare

My dad born 1905 was Albert Edward,named after King Edward 7th. My Dad was always known as Ted.

My grandfather was Herbert, always known as Jack. and I had an uncle Albert Thomas, always known as Bill.

My g grandad (born 1883) was Sidney on the 1901 census, his marriage and death cert, My gran's birth cert, and on his grave. Took me 4 years to find him, via his sister. His name was Gifford!
One brother Ivan was known as Frederick, another, Sylvanus was known as Herbert. These weren't even second names, just names they chose!!
My g gran known as Amelia was really Agnes, GG aunt Bella was Beatrice, G aunt Nell was Alice, my grandad's best mate Stan was really George. I can go on - even my dad wasn't known by his real name!!

maggie (Margaret on the birth cert!)

my g.grandmother was born Caroline Evelina, but was called Evelina all her life. in one census she is Caroline Evelina but then in the next one she is Evelina Caroline...im begining to think her family were trying to hide her!

My Great-Grandfather was born 'Harry'. Married as 'Henry' and died as 'Henry Younger'. I have not found out where the 'Younger' came from!

Another one, born Johanna, became Jean in the 1841 Census. I only managed to trace her parents through one of her daughters being called after Johanna/Jean's mother.

They DO make life difficult for us, but it is interesting, too!

I had an auntie who was called Frances, but was known as Pam. Never knew the logic behind that one?

Hi,
I have a relative with the first and middle name of Peter John who is known to everyone as Freddie?

Paul

My sisters husbands name was William John but he introduced himself as Charlie and was known by all his mates as Charlie. When he died last year they put William John ( Charlie) on his orbituary notice and funeral. My older sister who was married to his cousin always called him John and got very upset that John hadn't been put first said all his family knew him as John meaning the cousins. Her own husbands name was Richard Victor but we all called him Vic so did she to make it even worse her own name is Eileen but the family always called her Bet and she got upset if we called her Eileen. She is now upset that William is first on his headstone at 84 we make allowances but Geeeze to get so upset over a name . . . . Trish