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Census Lookups General Lookups => Census and Resource Discussion => Topic started by: BettyofKent on Friday 10 February 17 21:38 GMT (UK)

Title: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: BettyofKent on Friday 10 February 17 21:38 GMT (UK)
If there's no amendments/additions to a woman's surname, don't assume it's because she didn't marry.
I've just looked at one record, no other surnames added, but I know for sure she married.
So, as usual, don't take anything at face value (although I'm sure most of us don't need reminding) it all adds to the fun  ;D
Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: rosie99 on Friday 10 February 17 22:14 GMT (UK)
My mothers record was not updated with her married name. Her army records show her 1944 marriage though, I did wonder if it was because she was still in the forces that it was missed.


Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: Mean_genie on Friday 10 February 17 22:27 GMT (UK)
When someone joined the armed forces their record would no longer be updated in the civilian register. When they returned to civilian life they might resume their old 'identity' but not necessarily. If they were issued with a completely new civilian identity card and number their original entry would not be updated.
Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: Jebber on Saturday 11 February 17 08:42 GMT (UK)
There are also the many people who moved abroad. My late sister only shows under her maiden name because she married in New Zealand, there are many reasons why the 1939 does not show updated information.
Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: pollymann on Saturday 11 February 17 09:57 GMT (UK)
Recently I looked again at the entry for my grandparents to check if my uncles now appeared on the register and was surprised to see my mother's name as she is still living. There was also no married name added. Reading Mean_genie's reply I now assume that as she was serving in the RAF in 1956 when she married there was no connection made.
Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: rosie99 on Tuesday 14 February 17 09:06 GMT (UK)
When someone joined the armed forces their record would no longer be updated in the civilian register. When they returned to civilian life they might resume their old 'identity' but not necessarily. If they were issued with a completely new civilian identity card and number their original entry would not be updated.

I have her registration card which was issued in her married name just after she married.  It still has her at her parents address.  Other women in my tree who also married while in the forces have had the amendments done on the register.  It looks as though it was probably just missed.
Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: clairec666 on Tuesday 14 February 17 13:42 GMT (UK)
I've found a couple of ladies who I'm 99% sure married, yet their married name isn't recorded on the 1939 register. I imagine this is quite rare but always worth bearing in mind. :)
Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: Mean_genie on Tuesday 14 February 17 16:23 GMT (UK)
Rosie 99 - If you have her registration card you will be able to tell from the number on it whether it  was part of the original 1939 registration or a later replacement. If you are OK with putting her number on here it would be very interesting to see it.

Mean_genie
Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: rosie99 on Wednesday 15 February 17 11:31 GMT (UK)
It was not the card originally issued in 1939 but is showing the address she was living at then. The card was issued with the same area code as is shown against her sisters marriage adjustment. 
Title: Re: 1939 Register - Don't assume a woman didn't marry...
Post by: Mean_genie on Wednesday 15 February 17 16:42 GMT (UK)
There was a wholesale re-issue of a new style of card in 1942, keeping the previous numbers. New cards were also issued on a change of name, again keeping the same number. If her number is in the format ABCD:23:4 then it was part of the original registration, and you can use that number to find the person's entry in the original register.

clairec666 - I too have found someone whose change of name was not changed when she married. I have the marriage certificate and I know that she used her new husband's name because her young son from her previous marriage was brought up with his stepfather's surname. I suspect this was because this marriage was in the late 1950s, after registration had ended. You could be prosecuted for failing to notify a change of name or address while registration was in force, but when it was an NHS matter only, it was just another bit of paperwork. So I think most of the un-notified changes of name are post-1952 (although I have a friend who found exactly the opposite in her family!)