Genealogy Chat

Hi I know that some people who have a middle name sometimes like to be known by that name. But when you marry die etc. do you not use the name you were given at birth or do some people stick with a middle name thankyou

Audrey x

I guess when you die, its rather down to who reports the death and if theyve known Fred as Jim all his life, then it will be Jim on the record.

Ive normally found they tend to use their formal birth name for marriages and for other records like army etc. but I guess someone can choose what they want to do - its not illegal to use any name as long as its not for dodgey purposes.

Thank you both so my Albert Edward as he was born used Edward Albert for marriage etc. perhaps he did not like Albert.

Audrey

May be dad was albert too? So they always used his second name to avoid confusion?

I think I might have this problem. Have a brother for my grandfather on the 1901 census as Edward. Cannot find his birth record...have found a James Edward which looks likely, have to order cert to be sure!

My grandad was Samuel John. When I was growing up, everyone referred to him as Jack....I thought that was his name until I started researching and found it was Samuel John. His father was John, but why the Samuel was dropped I'll never know???

Makes it all good fun eh? NOT!!

My mother was always known by her middle name of Irene, but I believe that was to avoid confusion with her mother, whose first name she shared.

my paternal gran was Emma Ann.her second hubby called her Annie and he registered the births of their eldest two daughters and stated mums name was Annie.AND he registered them as if they were married but they didnt marry until the second child was 15 months old. SO the registers are only as good as the info given.

Shirley

And my ggrandmother's name was Ann Maria Coley, she appears on censuses as Coley, Cawley or Cowley; she married twice in her maiden name (the second one may have been bigamous as I haven't found the death of her first husband); and had children in 1885 and 1888 using the surname of her second husband who she eventually married in 1893.

In 1891 and 1901 censuses she appears as Annie.

Took me months and months to sort that out with help from GR members who pointed me in the direction of both marriages.

Don't you just love them! My uncle clary was actually Francis Leslie Clarence and his wife my auntie Cissie was Elizabeth Ann. Nobody in my family ever told me that. They take forever to find but don't you feel you have achieved something in the end.

Linda

Im researching my son Ricky's tree for him, he's 10. When I first started, his gran said to me, 'Rickys great grandad was called Jack, thats usually short for John.' So I put him down on the tree as John. I've since found out his name was Baden!! He didnt like it, so called himself Jack. Taught me never to assume anything. The info on a death cert is dependant on the person who registers the death, they may spell a name wrong, omit a middle name, or even add a middle name.

And my cousin Frederick George Stevens was known as Geoff.
I only found that out when I discovered his baptism.

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

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

Paul

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

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!

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 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 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.

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