Changing name by deed poll

[ali607]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to find out more about my grandad. He was supposably born illegitemate - no name on birth certificate. He did provide a name later on on his marriage cert but probably not accurate. I do know that he changed his name later in life and have much info on him thereafter including naval records. I thought this record may provide name of his father...possibly?

I dont actually know that he officially changed his name by deed poll but it's worth a try.

I know he changed his name sometime between 1945-1958...probably 1947-1958.

Could anyone point me in the right direction in finding out whether he changed his name by deed poll or not? Do you need to know the county?

Many thanks

Alison

[crisane]

This is The National Archives guide to changes of name and deeds poll
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides-keywords/?show=keywords&keyword-letter=d&keyword=deeds-poll#step-three

[wivenhoe]

Do you have the birth certificate, and marriage certificate?

The use of another family name...was it subsequent to his marriage...so birth certificates of children needed to be changed?  After his marriage, when is the earliest use that you see of the different family name?

Are the two family names significantly different or just variations of the one name?

[Rena]

There are images of blank British Deed Poll Application forms online and there is no reference to the parents of an adult. The only reference to parents names being required is an application to change the name of a minor under the age of 18 years.

Unless you require a legal name change for a passport, driving licence, etc., you don't need to go down that route.

Here's a website that answers many questions, and yours is Question 10:

"Q10:  I am trying to find a record of a relative's name change.  Can you tell me if they have changed their name by Deed Poll?

A:  Searching for someone's Deed Poll is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.  This is because there is no central register of all name changes by Deed Poll.  Furthermore, in addition to ourselves, a Deed Poll can be prepared by any of the many thousands of solicitors in the UK and there are other websites providing the service.  Even if you discovered who prepared your relative's Deed Poll, client confidentiality prevents the disclosing of any information about the Deed Poll.

The only chance you have of locating a Deed Poll is ...... "

 http://www.deedpoll.org.uk/OtherFAQs.html

[KGarrad]

Under the Laws of England & Wales (Scotland too, I think?) a person has the right to call themselves anything they like, just as long as it's not for purposes of fraud or deceit.

A Deed Poll is not necessary.

[Guy Etchells]

Let's clear up the myth of what a deed poll is; in law a poll is a document with straight edges, rather than roughly torn or indented edges. A deed is a written intention, put the two together and you have a deed poll a persons written intention.

It is important to realise that in the UK a deed poll does not change the person's name, it merely shows the persons intention to change their name.

The change of name is only effected by using the new name.

Cheers
Guy

[ali607]

Hi WIvenhoe,

Yes I have both the birth and 1st and 2nd marriage certificate and death certificate.
He deserted the first marriage and the only child - my dad - never to be seen again. I believe this to be the reason for the name change as he owed the mother money for the upbringing of the child and he had been in court over it.
After years of searching I did find that he had changed his name and took his forename to make up a new second name. As I remember, on his 2nd marriage certificate, it says his new name and then 'formerly old name' in brackets underneath.  I have narrowed down the time frame to between 1947-1958 for changing his name. I wanted to see if there was any formal documents to see if they provided a clue to his father...
Former name -  Desmond Jervis Salter
New Name - Robert Desney (made up)
 
Thanks for all the other information regarding deed poll name changes. I thought it was a bit more of a formal record and would have been easier to find...

Alison

[Jebber]

If a name is changed by Deed Poll it should show up in the London Gazette.

[ali607]

Yes thanks - I've searched and nothing comes up...