Which surname would be correct?

[Vulcaneer 10]

Can anyone help. A birth certificate I have from early 1900's says the following.

 

Name, if any.........William CASTLE.

Name and surname of father..........Entry is struck through - no father named.

Name, surname and maiden name of mother......Eliza LITTLEWOOD formerly WALKER.

 

My question is should the child be William Castle LITTLEWOOD or William CASTLE?

 

He was actually married as William CASTLE.

 

Hope you can help. Vulcaneer.

[chimay 10]

Can anyone help. A birth certificate I have from early 1900's says the following.

 

Name, if any.........William CASTLE.

Name and surname of father..........Entry is struck through - no father named.

Name, surname and maiden name of mother......Eliza LITTLEWOOD formerly WALKER.

 

My question is should the child be William Castle LITTLEWOOD or William CASTLE?

 

He was actually married as William CASTLE.

 

Hope you can help. Vulcaneer.

 

Castle because that is his name on the birth certificate. It is up to the person registering the birth to say what names should be on the certificate. It is only custom that says a child is given his/her parent's surname.

 

I think that surnames can only be changed by marriage (women) or deed polls.

 

Hope this helps.

[Vulcaneer 10]

Thanks Chimay for your quick reply.

 

I thought it might have been Littlewood as William Castle are both entered in what would normally be just the christian name box.

[chimay 10]

Thanks Chimay for your quick reply.

 

I thought it might have been Littlewood as William Castle are both entered in what would normally be just the christian name box.

 

You can't just stick a surname on if no name was written in the surname box. It could just have been a mistake that Castle was written in the Christian name box.

 

Do you have any idea where the name Castle came from?

[Vulcaneer 10]

hi chimay

 

If there is no father entered ie illegitimate wouldnt his surname have been Littlewood after his mother. Vulcaneer

[chimay 10]

hi chimay

 

If there is no father entered ie illegitimate wouldnt his surname have been Littlewood after his mother. Vulcaneer

 

Hi Vulcaneer,

 

No, any surname can be given. Castle could have been his biological father's name even though no father's name was not given. This naming game hasn't always been straight foward. Some children were given the surname of other relatives (especailly if the surname was in danger of dying out through no direct male child) or benefactors. Do you know if William Castle was brought up by his mother? Do you think it could have been that he was handed over to a family named Castle?

 

All these variations make building your famiy tree more interesting. I'm on holiday and I'm spending far too much time watching 'Heir Hunters' on BBC day time TV!!!!!

[Minimo 59]

If Castle is in the forename box along with William, I would suggest checking what the BMD register actually has the birth registered as.

It could be that Castle is the father's surname and William has been given it as a second forename.

[Minimo 59]

I have just checked it and that the birth (if it was June quarter 1903 Sheffield) is registered as William Castle (forenames) with the surname Littlewood.

[Vulcaneer 10]

Heir Hunters - I've sky plused it for when I get home from work.

 

My family were all Castles but to say the least Eliz was a bit "warm".

 

The children were all (5) either no father named, middle name castle, or father was named as castle. All born 5 years before they actually got married. She even called herself as with the surname Castle on one of the births in 1907 and didn't become married to Castle until 1915. What a gem.

It makes for a confusing tree.

[RiffRaff 10]

Maybe unconnected, perhaps useful....

An Eliza(beth) Littlewood married in Sheffield, Dec.1902 (Vol 9c, Page 839)

Unfortunately, I can't find the name of her spouse.....

[Vulcaneer 10]

Hello Minino

 

I must admit I do read it as Littlewood myself

[Vulcaneer 10]

Maybe unconnected, perhaps useful....

An Eliza(beth) Littlewood married in Sheffield,

 

What year - I have her marrying in 1918

 

Vulcaneer