Genealogy Chat

Sorry if this has been already mentioned, before 1911/12 the mother's maiden name was not included so if search for births it was very difficult to sure a birth was connected to your family.

Now register with GRO, search births, enter surname and date which has to be between two years, then enter female or male and births ( after 1837) will include maiden names.

This is very useful when on then1911 Census you find they include children you know nothing about I have been able to add many children.

It's good, isn't it :-)
Also death reg show the age at death which can help you decide if it's for the correct person.

yep ...... been using the GRO Index for a few months now.

It's great


BUT you do have to be aware of a few problems.

1. On births ........... this digitization currently has no means of distinguishing between months and years, it shows number only. So it is hard to distinguish between a child that dies under the age of 1 year and one that dies between 1 and 12 years old.

2. If there is no father named, then no mother's maiden name shows on teh digitization ....... ie, the baby's surname is the same as the mother's name. BUT this also happens in the case of a woman who marries a man with the same surname as her ........... eg, cousins marrying. I have several cases where cousin have married, and the baby's birth registration seems to show s/he is illegitimate.

3. I've come across a surprising number of marriages where the same surnames are involved, even with what seemed to be unusual names. You do have to double check these!!