Two surnames for husband in GRO record: why?

[Davedrave]

I have come across a marriage from 1961 where the GRO record (image of actual page, not transcript) has the male spouse’s name as Thomas G L.....n or Thomas G B....n. On the evidence of a grave plot record, the first of the surnames is correct. The surnames have 7 and 6 letters respectively. Is this just a case of the clerk at GRO being unable to read unclear handwriting, or is something else possibly going on? (I haven’t given the names just in case. I know the records are public, and the people are pretty distantly related to me too, but the date is not that long ago.)

[Gillg]

Did he perhaps have an alias?  Was he adopted by a stepfather and took his surname?  Or maybe he didn't like his surname or its associations.  There are so many possibilities, but these three have happened within my family.

[Davedrave]

Did he perhaps have an alias?  Was he adopted by a stepfather and take his surname?  Or maybe he didn't like his surname or its associations.  There are so many possibilities, but these three have happened within my family.

I suppose any of these instances are possible but would his name not then have simply been given as the one he was currently choosing to call himself?

[AntonyMMM]

The GRO Index page isn't really an original document - it is an index compiled from information taken from copies of registers.

Without seeing the entry it isn't possible to say - but it would normally  be that the marriage register entry has two surnames recorded for the individual ( e.g. Brown otherwise Lennon) - but they would be indexed separately under each surname.

If it is a single entry that says "or" then perhaps the indexers couldn't decipher the copy of the entry and put in two possibilities (not sure I've seen one like that though).

[Gillg]

You really need to see the marriage certificate or a photocopy of the entry in the church register for the correct details.

[Davedrave]

Thanks for your replies.

Dave

[medpat]

Where his parents married? What were they known by?

[Rosinish]

Do the 2 surnames have almost the same lettering on both or is there a distinct difference apart from the 1st letter i.e. L & B?

It seems he may have been using a different name at some time as L & B seem very different?

I've come across similar (Scotland) where the chap had been using a different surname which was noted by his name then 'previously' other surname.

Annie

[Colin Cruddace]

Many moons ago I used to transcribe for FreeBMD and have come across many similar entries.
The GRO Index is a finding aid to allow them to find a specific certificate.
It is compiled from quarterly returns of certificates, where names are extracted and an alphabetical index produced. If there is any doubt about letters or names then each will be transcribed separately to ensure all possibilities are covered. Each will have the same reference.

Colin.