Genealogy Chat

Any reason why a man would have 2 surnames on a marriage certificate? Seen it before with the woman if she'd been married before but never with a man. Thanks Lou

Hi Lou, I have that on one of mine where the man was born under one name, then took on his Mother's second husband's name, and came to be known as that. Both names were on his marriage cert. Christine

Hi Lou, I've also got a bloke with 2 surnames. His parents were not married and didn't live together. He was given his father's name on his birth certificate, he was then bought with his mother's surname and only reverted back to his father's suranme when he got married. Both names appear on the wedding certificate. My guess is that he didn't know that his father was not his mother's dead husband until he was grown up. Then having found out he decided to switch to his real father's name. Do you have links to both the names on your cert? Louise

Do you mean he has two surnames in his name column, or that his surname is different from his father's? If his father's surname on the cert is the same as the last surname the groom has, then perhaps the other surname is a middle name which he didn't use very often. If his final surname is different from the father, this could mean that he was illegitimate, or that the father on his cert was actually his stepfather. nell

Hi all Blame the fact it was late, I didn't explain myself too well at all, did I??? I got a cert yesterday, Rose Ann Tooley married Samuel Rylance 3rd Aug 1876. I haven't checked 1837online for surnames cos the marriage is listed on freebmd/ancestry bmd as Rylance so I ordered it from the local office. I suspected that Rose Ann was my 3xgrandfather's sister and given that their mother's maiden name was Rylance, I wanted to try and establish whether Rose Ann's marriage was a coincidence (marrying a Rylance) or if Samuel was her cousin and how he linked into the family unit. When the cert arrived, she is Rose Ann Tooley, father's name Hugh Tooley (so, yep, the right Rose Ann) he is stated as Samuel Rylance or YARDLEY, father's name space blank. So thinking logically (and awake!), I guess he was illegitimate, Mum remarried and he took on the surname. But I can't find him or the link with Yardley!!!! Found Rose and Samuel on the 1881 census living 67 Charles Street, Hyde, Cheshire, Samuel stated as born Hyde 1844. I've tried the 1861 and 1871 and nothing that fits Lou

Hi Lou, Have you seen the Yardley/Rylance family living in Yorkshire on the 1871 census. There is a son called Samuel who was born in Hyde Cheshire. The problem is that he is only aged 7 but maybe his age is wrong on the census. If not your boy this is a very strange coincidence! I can send the image if you haven't seen this. Louise

Whoops! It's actually the 1861 census - not awake yet! - so it's probably your fella. L

Hi Louise I hadn't seen that one so if you could send me the image that would be great. Will have a proper look at it and try and find the family link once I've de-Ready brekked my kitchen. Grrrrrr! Lou

On its way! L

Hi Louise Images received safely. Many thanks Lou