Genealogy Chat

At what date do marriage certificates have mothers maiden names on ? I have two 1909 and 1900 they don't is it early nineteen hundreds or later? Kim

Kim I don't think marraige cert ever have themothers maiden name on only birth certs. but am sure someone will correct me if wrong Shelli

Shelli's right, Im afraid. The only info. on a english marriage cert. is name of both spouses, their ages (early certs. sometimes give "full age" if they are over 21), occupations, and fathers' names and occupations. Oh!! and the date!!!

So I won't find out a mother's name off a marriage cert then? Only a birth certificate. Isn't it about time it was modernised in the interest of equality, and no, I don't want to start a sexism debate! I merely think it would be useful to people like us in the future..........|what do you think ? KIM

They already do in Scotland. The information in their certs. is incredible - shame we don't follow suit. It seems that if the gov. get their way there will be even less information on certs. especially death certs. They are even thinking of bringing in a 75 year privacy law!!! Don't envy the genealogists of the future. Jan Karnovski, Gravesend, Kent.

Hi Kim, Don't know if this is of any help, but the St. Catherine's Index for Births starts to include the mother's maiden name after Jul-Sep quarter 1911. Also around 1912 when you look a marriage up it starts to include in brackets the partners surname, which helps locate relatives. Only know this as I've been tracing relly's to present day-with lot's of success. Hope this is of some use ! Craig Simpson Burnley

I suppose traditionally when the certificate system was introduced the Mother was not so likely to have an occupation. So you would trace through father. Its not the case now though , and in fact the family life has changed altogether, with one parent families,step and same sex partners with children. I think its about time Eng and Wales followed the Scottish system if it records all this, after all I can't think of a good reason why not . Privacy is one thing. Decent records are another. Are we saying now that on the one hand we have an argument for identity cards and on the other we are all to be more private. It is all a bit of confusion if you ask me. If it works in Scotland why not?! The ideal marriage certificate should hold both the parents details and maiden names........ Kim

I don't think my birth cert has my mother's occupation on it, and this was in the 1980s. I suppose it's just more paperwork and no-one has the inclination to change the system.

I have looked at several wedding certs from 19th and early 20th centuries and these all give the name of the father of the bride (with his occupation). In the vast majority of cases this would also be the bride's maiden name. It is in the dozen or so certificates in my possession. The only exception being one who always referred to herself as Sarah formerly Sole where her father, according to her marriage cert., was Sowle

Yes , I realise the fathers name in most cases is the brides maiden name,except in unusual circumstances, (where maybe it is the brides mother's second marriage and the bride was from the first) but it would be good if the bride mother's maiden name was shown as well............ Kim

It would be nice Kim, but mothers names still do not appear. Thinking about it, is this not sexual discrimination?