Clark - William James or James William

[friesland]

I understand that my great grandfather, James William Clark, was born in Essendon, Herts (recollection of an elderly relative so not 100% sure).

My grandmothers birth certificate shows her father as James William Clark. I have his marriage certificate dated 4  feb 1882 marrying Selina Saunders. Several censuses from 1891 showing him as James W Clark born in Hatfield, Herts.

The difficulty I have is with his birth. I have a certificate for a William James Clark for 29 Jan 1859 in Batherdale, Hatfield, Herts but that is William James not James William. This William James' father is James and his mother is Ann Sarah nee Hill.

Looking at the census for 1861 in Essendon Village I find a James Clark married to an Ann S Clark with a son James W aged 2.

I can't imagine that if a boy is christened William James then just 2 years later be renamed James William but I can't find another birth that seems to fit.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[avm228]

Switching round of given names is no big deal whatsoever at that time - it’s a very common finding.

What paternal details are given on the marriage to Selina?

[friesland]

At the marriage to Selina his father is noted as James Clark, labourer.