My ggrandfather changed his name

[Cocoanne1]

My paternal ggrandfather changed his Surname.  Is there any way I can get an official record of this?  He was born Richard Coote (think illegitimate) changed his name to John Richard Edwards no-one knows why.  Early 1900's I think

[silvery]

What year was he born, and where?

Could try and have a look what was happening.   He may have taken his stepfather's name.   

[Mort29]

Is there any way I can get an official record of this?

Only if he used the Deed Poll route - you can quite legitimately use any name you want, by just adopting it - and as long as your intent is not to defraud, that's all there is involved.....

[Cocoanne1]

B 1872 Butterick Lincs

[silvery]

All I can find at the moment

1881 census - RG11/3215/60/1   (reg dist, Boston)

Jonah Donner 70 farm labourer b Lincs, West keal
Mary Donner 68 b Stickney
Richard Coote, 8 nephew b Butterwick Fen

next door

John Coote 64 widow farm lab, b Toynton

top of page

James Coote 62 farm lab b Toynton
Jane Coote 61 b Ashby
Kate Coote 4 g'dau b Butterwick Fen

I'm thinking that maybe the two children have lost their mother.   Did you get the birth cert?

[silvery]

By 1891

Mary Ann Donner 79 widow, b Stickney living on her own

Kate Coote is 14 still with g'parents

[silvery]

1891   RG12/2604/30/ 6

Richard Coote 21 boarder b Keale, aglab

[silvery]

Well, it doesn't look as though he's been with a stepfather.   So I wonder why he changed his name when he was over 21.   Did he marry with this change of name?

[silvery]

There's a marriage of Richard Coote to Grace Cartwright, in March quarter 1920 reg dist Spilsby vol 7a page 1128.

Is this him?