Surname changes

[Barbara B]

Can someone just change the family surname or does this have to be done by deedpoll? I am looking for the McMorrow family - father possibly from Ireland and I know the name changed to Murray by 1910 if not before.How can I go about finding them earlier on?
Any suggestions greatly appreciated
Barbara

[dickiesam]

Hi Barbara,
Back in the days before computers, the internet, identity theft, credit cards and suchlike, for all everyday intents and purposes you were what you chose to call yourself. However, for official stuff like passports which would involve a birth cert you would have to have an official name change approval by deed poll. Sometimes a surname change happened by accident. I know of at least three instances with my surname were an immigrant's name was written down wrongly by a port immigration inspector chappie, probably having been mis-heard because of a strong Irish accent, and the 'new' name stuck because it was in 'officialdom's' records.

These days it is unwise not to use the deed poll process to make the change official. It's simple and easy. Excellent info here: http://www.ukdps.co.uk/ Especially under 'General name change information' > Introduction.

Re the McMorrows... Tell us what you know and we'll dig around.

Brian

[Barbara B]

Hi Brian
Thanks for the information. I'll chase it up,
As for the McMorrows, they are part of the family of a friend. His mother was Florence McMorrow born and registered as Florence Murray in Byker, Newcastle 1910. Her mother was Margaret McDonald, born Howick, Scotland. Father unknown McMorrow, born Ireland, died 1923.
Sisters and brothers - Alice, Margaret, James, Lawrence, Frank and John. No dates for them so far - I'll have to keep digging.
Florence married Joseph Worrall, born Liverpool 1912, in 1939.
I think I have Joseph's parents married in 1906 in Liverpool. They were Joseph Worrall and Annie Park. They're the only Worralls that fit!
If anyone can help I'd be very grateful
Barbara

[Tina]

Worrall you do next Barbara

Tina

[dickiesam]

Oh Tina!

Worrall you do next

? Don't give up your day job!

Hi Barbara,

His mother was Florence McMorrow born and registered as Florence Murray in Byker, Newcastle 1910.

Bit puzzled.. The only Florence McMorrow born in 1910 was registered as a McMorrow.
Births Sep 1910> MCMORROW, Florence - Newcastle T. - 10b - 175. Does your friend have the birth cert? I assume he has it since he knows the mother's maiden name.

This is the only marriage I could find around 1939 for a Joseph Worrall:
Marriages Jun 1939> Worrall, Joseph to Murray, Florence - Surrey N.W. - 2a - 1117.

So is the thinking that Florence McM born in 1910 is the same person as the Florence Murray who married in 1939? Is there any evidence that she is the same person? Is there a father's name/occupation on the marriage cert?

Re her siblings... I assume they were all born pre-1911 because there are no McMorrow nee McDonald births from that year on. While looking for siblings I may have had a bit of a breakthrough? I think you could have the wrong Florence birth in 1910..
Births Sep 1910> MURRAY, Florence M - Newcastle T. - 10b - 37.
Have sent you a PM with more info re siblings etc.

Brian

PS: Edited to include a bit of lateral thinking.. or a leap in the dark and landing right way up?
Marriages Sep 1895 - Sunderland - 10a - 929: McDonald, Margaret and Murray, Thomas .

[Barbara B]

You have the right Worrall/Murray marriage Brian. My friend has a short birth certificate with his mother registered as McMorrow but not the original.
Thanks for the PM - v interesting!
Barbara

[dickiesam]

My friend has a short birth certificate with his mother registered as McMorrow but not the original.

May be a stupid question, but in view of what is known of Florence's family, her siblings etc, I am wondering if your friend has the right birth cert? The Florence McMorrow and Florence Murray facts are not disposed to point that way.

I gather you may have Florence in 1911 so it might be of benefit to post what you now have. Would enable the crew to get to work back-tracking family for you from 1901 etc. Can't have Tina worralling about the Worralls!

A minor, or perhaps major, point... Make sure that the short-form cert your friend has is an original issued by the Registry office. If it is, or looks like, a photo-copy it could have been changed from the original. I have come across a couple of cases where an original birth cert has been 'unofficially' altered in a way that makes a significant difference to it's eventual use. When photocopied the alteration could be much more difficult to spot.

Brian

[Barbara B]

I have just found the Murray family on the 1901 entered as Mullay. Alice and Frank are there along with their father, Thomas,' two brothers, Patrick and James. This ties in with what my friend told me - that his grandfather came to England with his brothers and worked as a labourer. As yet I haven't found anyone on the 1891 except a possible for Patrick as a lodger in Sheffield.
The 1911 shows all the chidren including Florence. At least I now know what name they went under then.
I'll check the birth certificate as soon as I can. Difficult this week as the friends have visitors - an occupational hazard when you live in France!
Thanks Brian for all the help so far.
Don't know 'worall' do next Tina! Any suggestions?
Cheers
Barbara

[dickiesam]

I think this is probably the marriage for Thomas Murray, not the Sunderland one I found earlier. The registration is in South Shields, Co Durham where the son Frank [aka Francis] was born... [Births Jun 1900> MURRAY, Frank - S. Shields - 10a - 876].
Marriages Sep 1897> BEWICK, Margaret to Murray, Thomas - S. Shields - 10a - 1099.

I found the family in 1901, correctly transcribed as it happens. Judging by their ages [and fruitless searches in 1891] I don't think the brothers were in England until after the 1891 census.

Brian

[Barbara B]

My friend is sure his grandmother's maiden name was McDonald so I think you were probably right with your first find. The family moved to where the work was so that would explain why the children were born in different places. It would be interesting to find out how Thomas and Margaret met.
Cheers
Barbara

[dickiesam]

It would be interesting to find out how Thomas and Margaret met.

Need to check for Irish pubs in the area where they worked!

Brian

[Barbara B]

I finally got the birth certificate and marriage certificate of Florence McMorrow/Murray. The birth certificate is a 1931 copy and gives her name as McMorrow. Mother Margaret McDonald and father Thomas McMorrow Her marriage certificate is in the name of Murray with father Thomas Murray. They must have changed their name just after Florence was born as I have all the family on the 1911 as Murray.
Now to investigate the Worralls a bit more closely!
Thanks for all the input especially dickiesam
Barbara

[dickiesam]

Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the update. Looks like the Murrays are sorted. So there's no question of asking Worrall you do next?

Cheers,
Dickiesam

[Barbara B]

I have just found a contact on Ancestry who is researching the early Worralls. Thomas Worrall b 1849 seems to have had a fairly checkered married life - at least three wives, so that could turn out to be interesting.
Watch this space!
Barbara

[sailorden1]

Hi

Annie Park is my Great Aunt!

Maybe we can share some information?

Regards
Dennis Park

[MaryA]

Hi Dennis and welcome to the forum. Barbara is a regular on the board so I'm sure she will reply very soon.

[sailorden1]

Hi Mary,

Thanks. I'm just finding my way around at the moment and was looking for Park family info and stumbled across my Great Aunt (and Uncles) names.

Weird eh

Regards
Dennis Park

[MaryA]

Weird eh

Not really you'll get used to it, we put our ancestors names out there not only to ask help to solve mysteries but to see if others find our posts, generally by googling, and you got lucky.

[Barbara B]

Hello Dennis
Annie Park is my friend's grandmother. I'm researching his family at the moment. Annie married Joseph Worrall in 1906. Her parents were ( I think ) William Robert Park and Alice Ann Barnes. If this rings any bells I'd be glad to share any info with you. It's brilliant when you make a contact, I love it!
Regards
Barbara

[sailorden1]

Hi

Well if your friends Grandmother is Annie Park, then I guess that (he/she) would be my great cousin?

Anne park (1882) married Joseph Worrall (1882)

Anne's parents were : William Robert Park & Alice Barnes (1859).

I have a whole heap of stuff about them.

However I have the following challenges ;

William Robert Park's Parents where : Abraham Park (1802) & Eliza Jacques (1822) his second wife (1st wife Caroline Kershaw (1804))????

If Abraham was his father then I have the line back to the late 1700's via Kildwick in Yorkshire and Bradford!

What do you think about Abraham????

Ok so back to Anne :

She had as siblings : William, Mary, John, Thomas & Elizabeth ;

I need more information about Thomas Park Please (as he is my grandfather Park!)

It looks like the family split up, and I have various addresses for the split family, but cant work out what happened to Thomas in his early life??
Someone suggested the workhouse?

I have a whole heap of info that we could share if you wish, and I would like to compare trees if possible

Regards
Dennis Park
Denp14(at)hotmai.com