Genealogy Chat

Not sure if this is the right board to put this on, but here goes.
When I was born, my mum wanted my christian name to be spelt a certain way. My Dad got it wrong when he registered my birth and registered the spelling in a "made up" way that is nothing like the one I use. Through life, I've spelt it the way Mum wanted it. When I married, on the marriage certificate I had to put "Fanny" formerly known as "Fanniey"
(obviously a made up name) On the bmd sites, I have two marriage entries - one with my birth name and the other with the name I use.
When I die, hopefully a long time away, will my family have to register both spellings of the Christian name on the death certificate, as I did on my marriage certificate?

As a genealogist it's got me curious.

I'm not certain but I don't think so (unless you leave specific instructions for them to do so). Usually the death certificate will just have whatever information the informant gives at the time.

Kath. x

Hi Kath,
I realise its up to the informant as to what to put, but I'm thinking of any future gg grandkids etc, who gets interested in family history.
If my present spelling is just recorded, they may not be able trace my birth entry! I've not seen a modern death certificate, only old ones, so I don't know what information is recorded on them.
Also wondering if present day death certifcates have any room for putting previous christian name spellings etc - I would tell my family in advance about my name spelling! :-)

You can call yourself any name you want providing its not for fraudulent purpose. Your name can be whichever spelling the informant knows and doesnt have to match any other registered name.

If they know in advance then they can inform the registrar of both spellings as you did when you married

Hi Shirley,
I'm just thinking of future family genealogist's who may want to trace me. Though I suppose that's the thrill of things, when its a bit harder and having to look for different spellings etc!
After all, that's what we have all been put through! :-)

Edit - just seen your last reply Shirley - yes, I suppose I can tell my family in advance.

At the moment modern death certificates record:-

Date and place of death
Name and surname (and maiden name of married women)
Date and place of birth
Occupation and usual address
Name and surname of informant
Qualification of informant
Usual address of informant
Cause of death

Kath. x

Thanks Kath.

go get it changed by deepoll for about £25,then it will be legal to use on death cert,or any other doc you may use,

have a copy of your bc to hand and make it known its information is to be used,,as recently we had to show a copy of one when reg a death.

I'm surprised you had to show a copy of a birth certificate to register a death Kay????.

I've had to register a couple of deaths in the last few years and have not had to show a birth certificate - just the medical death certificate from the doctor .

Kath. x

Thanks Kay for that idea. I had never thought about doing that.
Will have to investigate doing that.

Hi kath,,

Yes, it was last year, a close family member.

Hi Kay,

Did you actually have the birth certificate? I would have found it difficult to get birth certificates in the short time you have to register a death.

Kath. x

Is it not possible/permitted? to put ,
Fanniey, also known as Fanny?

there must be many cases where people are known by nicknames...

obviously all the likely informants will have to be in the know, as it were?


Bob

Hi Bob,
I'll have to make sure all my family know about it for the future.

When we registered my dad's death, the registrar asked us if he had ever been known by any other name. As he had, the death was registered in both versions.
janice

Thanks Janice. That's interesting to know.

Hello, I dont know if this will help but I knew my mum all thorugh her life as Stella Marie and had real trouble locating her birth details, (she has dementia so we couldnt ask her). Turns out she was christened Nelly Ada, hated it and never used it.!! I had no idea and the family never thought to tell me as she was always known as Stella.
but if you are thinking of your future family researching the tree why dont you set up a book, do a few copies of your family history with everything you already know and about you and leave a copy of that to everyone. you can have some really nice books made these days and it means that its a hard copy of you and your life, technology could change in the future so dont rely on 'soft' copies. Rach

Hi Rachel,
I have been thinking about doing what you suggested - its just making time to get around to doing it. It's a good idea.

Jan

Going back to your original post, you only have the one marriage registration. However, your name has been indexed under both name variations.

Same will apply when you die. There will be only one registration, but, possibly, several entries in the index.

The GRO index is no different to an index in a book. There can be several entries in the index referring to a single entry in the book, the book in this case being the actual register.