Two surnames for husband in GRO record: why?

[Rosinish]

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.

I don't think this helps the query.
If there was any doubt about the surname should there not have been an annotation to denote such on the cert. the OP has?
If there's no annotation & he's indexed under both surnames this (I think) would say he'd been using 2 different surnames at different times.
However, the wording of 'or' isn't something I've seen, it's usually 'previously' or 'formerly' or 'Alias'.

Annie

[LizzieL]

Are you sure it is the husband who has two surnames, and not two surnames for his spouse? Did he marry in Leicester district to Blanche M. ..... If so she is shown with two surnames, which might indicate widow or divorcee

Further research on the Leicester Thomas G, shows he was likely to have been born in 1917 and died in 1992. Blanche was born in in 1921 and died in 2013. Records of her birth and previous marriage to  a Mr B....n are easily found.

[LizzieL]

Thomas G L....n  was born in Scotland. His middle name (given in full on death reg) gave me the clue he was from Scotland

[LizzieL]

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.

Yes, I have found Blanche is indexed as two separate marriage entries: under her maiden name and her first married name. There is no note or anything in the index to connect them to the same person. In second case forename is mis-spelt as Blance.

[Colin Cruddace]

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.

I don't think this helps the query.
If there was any doubt about the surname should there not have been an annotation to denote such on the cert. the OP has?
If there's no annotation & he's indexed under both surnames this (I think) would say he'd been using 2 different surnames at different times.
However, the wording of 'or' isn't something I've seen, it's usually 'previously' or 'formerly' or 'Alias'.

Annie

Sorry I was not sufficiently clear Annie. If the Indexer was not sure about the surname eg. Burton or Barton, then he would create an index entry for each, thus ensuring the GRO could find the certificate should a copy be required. There would be no entry or note made on the certificate itself.
Without knowing the 2 surnames, I am just making a suggestion that this may be the case.

Colin

ADDED: There seems to be some confusion as to whether there are 2 separate entries for each surname, or a single entry with both names but I've never seen one like that.

[LizzieL]

ADDED: There seems to be some confusion as to whether there are 2 separate entries for each surname, or a single entry with both names but I've never seen one like that.

In the example I mentioned in earlier response the index has Thomas G. L....n and the spouses surname associated with it says "H.... OR  B.....n "
The wife has two entries in each of the two surnames.