change of surname -- why?

[queencorgi1]

In 1841 Thomas Greaves was simply 'Greaves', as was his son William. However, by 1861 William had become 'William Greaves Hurd'; in 1871 he was 'William Greaves' again'; but in 1881 'William Hurd Greaves'. His son John, meanwhile, was 'John Greaves' in 1881 and 1891 but 'John Graves Hurd' in 1901 and 'John Greaves Hurd' in 1911. In 1920 his son Frederick was 'Greaves-Hurd' with a hyphen but thereafter 'Greaves' vanished altogether and the family name became simply 'Hurd'. Can anybody suggest what was going on? I wondered if 'Hurd' could be the surname of a spouse -- but it isn't.

[Milliepede]

Is this in the Derby area?

There's a William Greaves Hurd with mother Sarah Hurd so maybe a combination of mother/fathers names?

 

[avm228]

Welcome

What is the first occurrence of the "Hurd" part of the name?

I see a birth registration for Betsey Greaves Hurd in Shardlow district, Jun qtr 1845 - is she part of this family?

[queencorgi1]

Hi Millipede
This IS in the Derby area. I think William (??Hurd) Greaves is the son of Thomas Greaves who had a pub at Hartington (b. 1781). I don't have a wife's name for Thomas so I am very interested to hear of a Sarah Hurd, which would fit nicely!
Hi avm228
I am sure Betsey would be the daughter of William Greaves Hurd by his first wife Mary (Palfreman). They married in 1844.
The family are all in the Leics/Derby corner around Shardlow and Castle Donington for generations until John went south to be a stableman at Chiswick House (owned by the Duke of Devonshire, which is probably the connection).

[avm228]

Suggested baptism of William - it looks as though he was born out of wedlock to Sarah Hurd, but middle name Greaves may be a nod to his father:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYLX-QQ3

I expect this is what Milliepede had found earlier.

[queencorgi1]

avm228, that sound you just heard was a scream of excitement. Oh yes, that's it, isn't it? How interesting that the family then waver to and fro between the two surnames. This is my husband's family line I am doing: I have had lots of illegitimate children on my own side but they always stuck to their mother's surname. I will now go away and see if I can track down Sarah any further...

Many many thanks!!

[trystan]

Queencorgi (ma'm)

A big welcome to RootsChat - I'm delighted you got your answer within about twenty minutes of joining RootsChat

Trystan

[queencorgi1]

Hi Trystan, is that a record?!

[trystan]

No - not even close.   

(I'm jesting)