Genealogy Chat

Hi, I also have what was thought to be a strange name. His name was Walter Carrick Springford which I always thought was strange till I got his brothers birth certificate which showed the mothers maiden name as Carrick. However, it can't be that odd (although I've never heard of it before) as my sons teacher has just married and combined her maiden name with hubbys surname to make a double barrelled name, and thinking about it, just to confuse future generations a friend at school combined her surname AND her stepfathers surname when her Mum remarried to make a double barrelled name. But as I say, I didn't realise this was common until recently, would explain for a lot of unusual names. Sarah

I have the following examples: Dickinson Oldfield,Booth Ashworth,Medcalfe Maughan,Hornby Hammond George

Hi Joan, I have one like that who I have mentioned before Frederick Exuperious Turnor Upton. His mums surname was Stevens and his dads Upton! The Turnor spelling is correct. Its a mystery! Hope you sort yours! Barbara

I have a Northfield Reynolds - his mother's maiden name used as a Christian name - and Ada Reynolds Ryder - her mother's maiden name used as a middle name. You can search on FreeBMD by just first Christian name (best only if very unusual though!) or by putting *Turner in first name box it will show all those with Turner as a middle or third etc name. Hope this helps. Maz. XX

Hello Joan, I read the replies with interest as I have a George Griggs Matthews in my tree. As George and Matthews are soooo common (area of London too!) I can't succesfully trace them on the census's. Hopefully one day it will all fall into place,. Penny

Hello Joan. An aunt of mine was christened Harriet Whybrew Boyton. Boyton is the name of her estranged husband and Whybrew is the surname of the father of Harriet to whom she was not married. Just another way of looking at it. Good Hunting, Roger form Eastbourne

You can use anything as a forname. I often wondered at my great grandads name "Temple Dixon" until I found his Mother was Ann Temple. Using the Mothers maiden name as a forname is(or was) quite common and can a be useful pointer to an unknown maiden name if its unusual. I suppose its possible some might have used their mothers maiden name(s) as names for their children but havn't found any. Bob

Thanks, Margaret. I didn't know grandmother's maiden name was sometimes used. I quess I may have a onnection here between John and Frederick. Joan

Joan The mother or grandmother's maiden name was often used as a forename. Margaret

A family member Frederick Hudson married Hannah Priest in 1839, and they christened their third child in St Phillips Birmingham 1846 as John Turner Hudson. Is Turner a forename? I do have notes of a 'stray' Hudson, not my family, John married Elizabeth Turner in 1800, Aston Juxta Birmingham, and had a child ,born 1814, baptised 1826, St Phillips Birmingham, Alexander Turner Hudson. Now that Turner makes sense. Have I got a possible family connection here? Help/ideas much appreciated. Joan