william Yarnell/Harrison

[lesleyjayne]

If anyone can enlighten me on why possibly my Great-grand father would change his surname.
He was born a Yarnell but between 1895 and 1901 he changed his name to Harrison.
All records show his same birth date and place of birth plus his wife's but when their son was born he was registered as Yarnell but lived under the name of Harrison.
Did he get into trouble or was it the norm just to change your name.

Thanks

[PaulineJ]

what are the dates/circumstances of his birth/ marriage(s) of his mother?

PAuline

[lesleyjayne]

D.O.B - William Yarnell - 1871 washingboro,lincolnshire.
Married - 1895 to Susannah Bayes - 1874 Willingham.Lincolnshire.
1901 census William Harrison and Susannah Harrison (Skillington)
1911 census Willaim Harrison and Susannah Harrison (Balderton).

When my grandfather applied for a copy of his birth certificate it was under the name of Yarnell which he thought was his father's middle name not surname.

Thanks

[Geoff-E]

what are the dates/circumstances of his birth/ marriage(s) of his mother?

I presume he is in 1871 census aged 7 months, in which case, these were his parents-

Marriages Mar 1866
KENT    Mary A        Sleaford    7a   481   
YARNELL    John         Sleaford    7a   481

Details of the marriage are given in the "Sleaford spreadsheet" available here http://s10.freefronthost.com/mi/index.html

No idea why he should change his name.