Changing Surnames

[Harold]

My British ancestors seemed to keep changing their surname, in my research I have found several cases where the "husband" took the "wifes" surname.    

Have others found this, I can understand it when a "title" might be involved but for others it does seem a bit odd.

I have been told, when their was no male heir, it was considered almost a given that the son in law would take his father in law's last name to carry it on.

Have others found this to be the case.    It does make it much more difficult to trace families back!!

Harold

[Kazza]

Hi Harold,

This is not something I have experienced in my own tree yet.  Thank heavens,  they are difficult enough to pin down as it is.  

Maybe others can let us know if they have had a case of it?

Kazza.

[Boongie Pam]

I don't have it in my tree but I read that this happened in Romany families fairly regularly.

Pam
 

[Scottish2]

When my wife and I married in 1992 I took her surname. Just made things easier in our case.

[D ap D]

My grandmother always maintained that her husband (my grandfather) took on her name when they married.

However they were both born Williams, so I don't really think I've helped much here.  

[jaq]

researching my SPALDING surname was the same.
it seems THURSTON  married a SPALDING and took her name in 1760.
Her father is known as William Spalding b.1744

i recieved this from a fellow researcher:
"The parish church Gorleston has a record of the baptism of Ernest Robert Spalding on 9 September 1867, as confirmed by the church warden on 17 March 1997.
 
There is no record at OPCS for the birth of an Ernest Spalding.  However, shown in the 1871 Gorleston census as Robert Thurston.
 
1861 they were at 44 Baker Street, Gorleston.  William & Lucy with 4 children under the name of Spalding
 
1871 at 138 Baker Street, William & Lucy plus 9 children, including Robert aged 5 years.  All under the surname of Thurston
 
1881 at 36 Lowestoft Road, William \& Lucy with 5 children including Robert now 15.  All under the name of Thurston
 
1891 at 1 Clarkes Road off Lowestoft Road, William & Lucy with two children.  All under the name of Spalding!
 
1901 robert and victoria are at 74,selcroft road,greenwich.with harry aged 10,arnold age 6 and arthur aged 8months.back on the right track with SPALDING surname again   makes you wonder what was going on!



jaq

[jaq]

My grandmother always maintained that her husband (my grandfather) took on her name when they married.

However they were both born Williams, so I don't really think I've helped much here.  

nice one!

jaq

[Kazza]

My grandmother always maintained that her husband (my grandfather) took on her name when they married.

However they were both born Williams, so I don't really think I've helped much here.  

Was there a particular reason he took her name?  Were they afraid the Williams name would die out?  

Nice one D.  

Kazza.

[D ap D]

I think he'd had enough of being referred to as one of the Williams of Anglesey. Belonging to the Williams' of Caernarfonshire was obviously more attractive.