Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi all
Could somebody please answer the following:
Do you have to, when getting married, use your registered birth name or the registered birth name plus the middle name you were given when baptised - I ask as I have an uncle who only used his reg birth name he did not put his middle name on the cert.
Thanks
Toosh

That sounds in order, Toosh, particularly if that's the name he was known by.

Oh dear, names on marriage certificates have always been a problem, if only they had always been honest. It seems there was no proof given of their names, middle names were often missed off - or even sometimes added, leading us to wonder if they were confirmation names - and sometimes a complete lie was told and they gave one that they weren't registered with at birth!

Don't even get us started on the fathers names as these were often not only inaccurate to say the least but often completely fictional.

A marriage certificate is at best a good guideline with a few clues, but as it is often the only thing we have to rely on then we believe as much of it as we can prove.

I've not come across being given a middle name at baptism. I believe RCs choose another name at confirmation.

Couldn't agree more about the porkies written on marriage certificates even relatively modern ones!

A couple of mine, who were illegitimate, made up fathers/occupations - to save face, I suppose. Another had the name of the church instead of the father's name.

The strangest entry I have on a marriage certificate, and it sent me off on a wild goose chase for ages a few years back, is that of a 3rd great grandma who re-married and gave the name/occupation of her dead husband as her father. The wires had obviously got crossed somewhere along the line - either that, or the clerk was enjoying a tot of whisky as he wrote in the register.

Strange documents, marriage certs - I agree.

My Dad has different fathers' names on birth and marriage certificates. Neither are correct. The real father? Godfather on his baptism!


Blue

Education Officer wrote:I've not come across being given a middle name at baptism. I believe RCs choose another name at confirmation.

My mum's C of E baptism records a middle name not on her birth certificate so it can happen!

I think the best one for me so far a young ancestor named a "father with occupation" and below was written "reputed father" Further research showed he was her Uncle.

I still think when it comes to names on marriage certs, Father of the groom, FOO FOOK DAT, takes some beating

I would think, since the introduction of registration, the only name that matters for legal purposes and official documents would be the registered name that appears on the birth certificate.

Does a name added at Baptism have any legal standing?

Bertieone wrote: FOO FOOK DAT, takes some beating

Oh my word, that takes me back a bit

Bertieone wrote: Does a name added at Baptism have any legal standing?

I would imagine only if it was used consistently throughout life, even nowadays usage often counts for a lot doesn't it?

I have the church entry of someone who was illegitimate. In the space for father's name the vicar has written mother and the name of the mother has been inserted. In fact I've got 2 like that both at the same church. Both in the latter part of the 19th century. I thought it was rather nice of the vicar!

Nowadays these things are checked by the Registrar at the time of giving notice - that's if its at anywhere other than C of E, when it would be up to the Vicar taking the banns. You are asked what is the name you are known by and have to show some evidence of that name being used.
In the past, very often the Vicar would just fill the certificate in with the details he knew or thought were correct.

Sorry I have been a bit late getting back to you all but thank you everybody - this all made me smile.