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Census Lookups General Lookups => Census and Resource Discussion => Topic started by: JamesNeverJIm on Tuesday 25 February 20 10:44 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to make sense of this entry in relation to my grandmother (Kathleen James) and conused by why James Leighton was added, and the meaning of the o/w
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The 1939 National Register was kept updated by the NHS until the 1990s, and shows changes in surnames.
So Kathleen James changed her surname to Leighton at some time, but looks like she reverted to James later?
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O/W usually means Otherwise known as.
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Thanks KGarrad ... Im not sure why she changed her name though ...the only reason could be for appearances sake. Would the name James leighton suggest he lived at that address too?
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Welcome to rootschat
I wonder if the OW written in blue indicates otherwise known as. ie she is known as Kathleen Leighton
The blue adjustment also shows an area code and date
Area codes - https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/1939-register-enumeration-districts
As KG has said it looks as though she reverted to surname James later - date is alongside in green.
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Thank you Carol8353! Ooooh that fits possibly with the reason given by KGarrad ...maybe she used the name Leighton for appearances if she was living with a man of a different name, and took his to suggest they were married?
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Thank you Rosie! I have attached the whole entry which shows it was Hull... and presuming the BIR was Birmingham at some point which is where she moved back to around 15 years later
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The annoying thing is James is Kathleens proper married surname, but James is also the first name of gentleman called Leighton who she knew ...so not sure if the James refers to her name or his
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It would not mention his first name on the 1939 register unless he was separately itemised with her in the property, it would then only appear as part of his record and not hers.
It looks though in 1945 she assumed the name of Leighton then reverted to her name of James around 1959. The dates mentioned are when the adjustment was made to the register so do not always tie in with the actual date of a change in circumstance.
CR283 is a form that is used when there is a change in name/surname/date of birth
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Have you found a separate entry for James Leighton?
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You're a star Rosie ...although you've now amazed me and confused me about what the heck my gran was doing in equal measures ;D ;D ;D
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Yes Milliepede, I have found an entry for him separately