Changing names

[rdkmt]

One ancestor seems to have been born a John, then when he's a teenager it changes to James John. Same age so I presume it's the same one. Is this quite normal? Which name should I list him under if so?

[CaroleW]

so I presume it's the same one

Is he with the same parents?  If not - what is the basis for your assumption?

Which name should I list him under if so?

You don't give any timescale.  What name/names was his birth registered under?

[GrahamSimons]

Which name should I list him under if so?

I would suggest that you list all versions. I have some people on record that seem to have shuffled and changed names at will! In Family Historian at least there are ways of recording any number of "also known as" or "alias" names.

[rdkmt]

How do I do that? Put one under alternate version? Do they both then turn up in searches?


1841 Benjamin Jesney  3
 John Jesney  1

1851 Benjamin Jesney  13
 James John Jesney  11

Same parents too yes and other siblings.


Left home after that, seems to return to John. Maybe it was a teenage affectation or nickname...

[andycand]

Hi

There is a birth registration for a James John JESSNEY March Qtr 1840 Louth Registration District (which covers Theddlethorpe) It is likely that he was known by his middle name, John, which is why some records differ.

Andy

[carol8353]

Was his dad James too- sometimes children are given the same name as parents,but it proves impractical on a day to day basis so they get known by their middle names.

[GrahamSimons]

How do I do that? Put one under alternate version? Do they both then turn up in searches?

See the screengrab: to the right of the original name there's a grey link (more). That opens the window which is overlying the main one, as shown.

[Rainbow Quartz]

Quite a few of my ancestors have different names on census returns, either the first or 'middle' name, or a shortened version of any of their forenames. I record them with the name on the birth registration or the baptism, then make a note of the variations and where they occur. I find it quite interesting to see how the census returns have been filled out; one year a family is recorded with all their names in full, especially useful in filling in initials from birth registers, then another year they are all recorded with what is obviously just the name they are known by on a day to day basis.

[rdkmt]

Thanks all. Yes, I've just found his wife is sometimes known as Eliza, sometimes Ann Eliza. What you don't want is to get misdirected. His dad was Ed, so that's not the reason. Do you have that Jessney link Andy, I couldn't find it.