My great grandfather was born in July/August 1891. His name was Alfred Noble and showed on the 1901 census along with his family. Him mum, Ellen Charlotte Noble moved from London up to Sunderland. In 1901 she had four children and was a housekeeper for Alfred Semmens, who owned a few shops in Sunderland. Ellen and Alfred married in 1903. It would appear that the children, William, John and Alfred took on Semmens as their surname. The youngest, Elizabeth, I believe died. I am stuck tracing my family history. I cannot find a birth certificate for Alfred Noble/Semmens. I know that John Semmens' birth wasn't registered and he had to apply for a birth certificate in 1941 so that he could join the army. I know that Alfred Semmens was also in the war but I am not sure if he at any stage registered his birth. The first born, William Tiffin Noble does have a birth certificate but no name is listed for his father. I have also found that Elizabeth was baptised, probably because she didn't live long, but I cannot see if her brothers were ever baptised. I am travelling to Sunderland over the bank holiday weekend to research further. I was just wondering where to start really with finding a bit more background about him. Are there any records available to show if someone every changed their name or if you just take on the surname if a parent gets married. If anyone knows of anywhere in Sunderland, apart from the main sources, that I can go to find out more. I also know that Alfred Semmens Snr died in 1941 aged 78 yrs and their was an interment at Sunderland Cemetery but I cannot find if he ever had a headstone? Any help very much appreciated.
