Finding my deceased father’s birth mother

[VCT123]

Hi
I am trying to find a name for my father’s birth mother. I know his DOB and place but only the surname of his adopted parents. Can anyone help?
Thanks

[jorose]

Hi there and welcome to Rootschat.

Availabiity of adoption records and access by relatives is limited depending on location and time.
Can you let us know:
- The year of your father's birth
- Where the adoption took place (e.g. England, Ireland, Australia)
- if you have access to his post-adoption birth certificate (i.e something with his adopted parents' names on). 

There is some general information, presuming you're looking at UK records, here:
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/adoption/

[VCT123]

Thank you. I come to a dead end as I don’t know the name of his birth mother.
He was born 1937, in Horsforth Yorkshire.
I have tried to find his birth certificate but it does not seem to exist - perhaps he had a different name? His marriage details are readily available.

[AntonyMMM]

(Assuming you don't know his name at birth  & only his adopted name....)

As your father has passed away  you can apply for access to his adoption records (and his birth name/certificate) as a "prescribed relative".

Adoption services in the council area where you can advise you about the process, or you can contact the Adoption team at GRO

https://www.gov.uk/adoption-records

[amondg]

Do you know if he was adopted at birth or later?

Have you found him on the 1939 register?

[Calverley Lad]

If it's any help Horsforth is 5miles north west of Leeds.
Pre NHS births could have taken place in one of the many mother/baby homes.
[Near us we have a Salvation Army home, could always try them]
 Brian

[Andy J2022]

Further help and advice here: http://www.adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk/search/dap/

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

The key to finding the answer is knowing his name at birth as that is the name that will appear in the birth index. You may well have seen it already but not recognised it as the name will be unfamiliar. As others have said there are organisations that can help relatives of adoptees as they can access records (such as the Adopted Children's Register), that are not open to the public.

The last column on the birth certificate should note an adoption took place but nothing more than that. There will be nothing indicating adoption within the birth index itself and any name change that takes place as a result of adoption does not appear in the birth index.

[Gadget]

Hi

Do follow AntonyMMM's advice. He has the necessary professional knowledge.

(Assuming you don't know his name at birth  & only his adopted name....)

As your father has passed away  you can apply for access to his adoption records (and his birth name/certificate) as a "prescribed relative".

Adoption services in the council area where you can advise you about the process, or you can contact the Adoption team at GRO

https://www.gov.uk/adoption-records