Genealogy Chat

My OH is known as Ted but his birth name is Edward Arthur. My great grandmother was born Flora Ann, married as Florence and died as Florrie. Her husband was born Samuel but always known as Billy.


Deb:)

Great-aunt May was known as May all her life, including on census records. She was registered and baptised with the names Sarah Ann, but married as May Sarah.

Jay

My GG Aunt Sarah Elizabeth was known as Aunt Sally and another sister was Aunt Sissy and I'm sure her name was something like Margaret!

I have an Arthur William Jessie (always known as Wal) and a Derek known as Jimmer!

I met someone who was introduced as Alan. However, his sister called him Bill.

He explained that he was christened Alan William (the names ran together better that way round), but his parents intended that he should be known as William (hence the Bill).

He changed schools when he was seven. The teacher asked him to introduce himself to the class - "hello, I'm Bill" - the teacher stopped him, told him not to tell fibs, and told the class he was called Alan - so from then on he was Alan to everyone except his family!

My husband's grandmother was Ruth, but to her husbands framily she was always Jean. No one knows why, she always answered to Jean to the husbands family and never corrected them.


My grandfather was always known as Bob, and I thought he must have been Robert, but he was really Cecil Alfred Herbert, his brother Arthur Edmond Richard was known as Tom, and his sister was Dick (Edith Elsie).

My elderly neighbour is Dorothea but goes by Erika coz she liked a flower called that and decided to use it. No one knows her as Dorothea really

My name is Pamela - my mother always called me Susie!

Thanks to Jolly Sailor for making me laugh out loud.

I spent ages looking for the death of my uncle Cyril until I discovered he was actually called Redvers - no idea where Cyril came from.

My dad was called Wyndham but when he came to London from Wales and joined the police force he was told his name was too difficult to pronounce and was always called by his middle name of David afterwards.

This is only surpassed by ancestors who choose to spell their surnames differently on each census.

Happy hunting everyone,

Lynn

My Great great grandfather was known as Jack Tonkin but when I'd been researching a while and couldn't find him I then found out he was actually John Alfred Knight Tonkin - Jack because of his initials!!!

My ancestors (mostly) originated from Cornwall and using the middle name is a real trend! Even my dad is known by his middle name not his first. It's always a treat when someone rings asking for David and we're all like 'who?' !!!

Laura

Going back to the original question, as far as I am aware when registering a death, the name on the birth certificate is used, however as already indicated, people get so used to their preferred name, their registered name may not be known.

I work in a hospital (interesting the comments re Cornwall, because Devon is much the same) and am amazed at the number of people who use a name other than their first name...however all medical notes/records are kept in their registered name i.e Peter John known as John would have notes as Peter John.

Hope this helps

Nudge for Janet