Genealogy Chat

Rebecca Does your short cert give full names of both parents? My comments related to full certs........and to the days before unmarried parents were considered the 'norm' Reg

Rebecca Mine only has my first names on it - the surname is inferred from that of my father. (Full certificate). It is only fairly recently that the Registrar has asked 'And what surname is the child to use?' OC

my short birth certificate says Rebecca Lynn Carter Reg :o/

My grandmother had the married name in 1954 when grandfather died but I've never been able to find a marriage. At least I've narrowed my search down now to between 1940 and 1954 assuming of course they married which they may not have.

Rebecca The certificate has BOTH the parents names as the informants. The only time that is necessary, is when the parents are not married to each other - it is the Registrar's 'reminder to himself' that the father also attended registration. There is normally only one informant on a birth cert. All the birth certs I have, say' Mary Bloggs, formerly Smith' in the column for the mother's name, when she is married to the father (or is SAYING she is married to the father, that is!) OC

The baby's surname is not normally recorded on an English birth cert Reg

I think on one of mine I have mother and it only gives her first names and then the maiden name in the other bit. The informant was the babys father and mothers husband. Does your baby have the same name as mothers maiden name or post marriage name? If the baby was born out of wedlock baby wouldnt be able to have fathers name unless father was there at the registration.

No we haven't OC. Surely to find the marriage would be the thing to do ?. Bob

She might have kept her maiden name ( Elisabeth Taylor style) after marriage. Marriage doesn't change your name. What name did she die with ? Not probable but possible! 'When you have ruled out the alternatives, my dear Watson, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.' Sherlock Holmes. Bob

Er, Bob, we haven't ruled out the probable yet! OC

Agree with Reg - they were not married, and father attended registration so that his name could appear on the certificate, and that is why BOTH names appear as informants. OC

It would appear that they were not married........ Reg

Surely it should list her maiden and married name under the 'name, surname of mother' column and not just her maiden name. Sue

Reg Yes he is listed under 'name and surname of father'. Sue

I have a birth cert for my dad and my grandmothers listed on there as her first and maiden name only followed by her occupation. Is it likely therefore that she was not married to my grandfather at that time? Under the 'signature and description and residence of informant' are listed both my grandmother and grandfather. Thanks Sue

What, exactly, is in the box for the father's name? If it is blank, then the child was illegitimate. However, that is very odd, if the father was the informant.... OC

Is the father named in the appropriate column? Reg