https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/21476/1/Gibson%2C%20Experiences%20of%20Illegitimacy%2C%20ethesis.pdf
This mentions that gender could be a factor in attitude to an illegitimate child in the family.
4 times great-grandparents had been married 20 years and had 7 surviving daughters. Their only son died aged 2. Their eldest daughter gave birth to an illegitimate son. He seems to have been brought up by his grandparents. He lived in their house, took up his grandfather's occupation, gave his grandfather's name as his father on his marriage certificate and named first son after him. His mother had 1 or possibly 2 more pregnancies. She was subject to a removal order during one pregnancy "a Singlewoman, being poor and great with child". Her parents' household on 1841 census included 2 grandchildren who were definitely illegitimate (second one was my teenage 3xGGM's pre-marriage baby son) + a mystery toddler who may have been another grandchild, parents unknown. The fruitful eldest daughter had married in 1838 in her late 20's, gone to live in another town and produced her youngest child in wedlock. Her parents had 2 sons of their own by then but kept their eldest grandson after his mother married.
3xGGM's eldest daughter obviously took her eldest aunt as a role model.
Her illegitimate children were brought up by their grandmother and her 2nd husband, recorded with his surname and as his children on the first census after their birth, reverting to their original surnames and correct relationships on each census after his death.
