Genealogy Chat

As Sylvia inferred, the 1927 law allowed the adoption of minor children (minor in those days meant under 21) - so children b 1912 could be legally adopted after 1927; I eould presume your 12 y.o. on 1939 register wasn't adopted until after the register was formed, and her name change was recorded like any other by just crossing out the old name and adding the new one.

the 1939 Register was used as the basis for the NHS when that came in in 1947, and was constanly updated from 1939 to ca 1991.

Hence why you see women with married name(s) as well as maiden name.

I would think however that the child's adopted name being shown was accidental as usually that information was kept secret ........... unless she was not adopted until after 1939??????

I discovered a sister of my mothers about 5 years ago (she didn't know about this sister - she was only 3 at the time of her birth) and applied for a birth certificate only to find that the word adopted was shown on the birth certificate. The birth was registered in birth parents name, so I had no way of discovering her adopted name... until...

A couple of days ago, I checked the 1939 register for my mums father (my grandfather) only to discover the adopted daughter was shown on the register under her birth name, and the name was crossed through in red and her adopted name was shown. This could be a "one off" as the register was 12 years after the birth of the daughter, so I have no idea why her name should be shown!

Thank you that was very helpful

Official adoption didn't begin until around 1927 I think, in any case the birth reg will be in birth name,on freebmd.org.uk or on the GRO index.

Hello
Does anyone know if the birth records are amended to show the adopted name or does the record remain in the birth surname? I am trying to locate someone born c1912 so not sure what the set up was then.

Thank you

Christine