Change of name documents

Question

Hi

My great grandfather changed his name in NSW between 1925 and 1936. I have his Birth Cert and Death Cert and they have different surnames. How do I find out when and how he changed his surmane and the reason behind it?

Comments

Great question. I'm wondering the same thing with my paternal great aunt. She was born Maude Alma Kerbow and legally changed her name to Jerry Kerbow. She also somehow made her legal birthdate a year later. If you find out let me know please!

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The New South Wales government might hold copies of deed poll name changes. You could try contacting them.  (My stepmother did it in Queensland in the 1970s, but I've not bothered applying for any documents, as she married my father several years later after divorce became no fault.)

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Hi Karon. Sometimes people changing name made an announcement about it in a newspaper. You could try searching on Trove.

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An example of a posted deed poll notice- from Dobbins, to Dobbyn.

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I would have thought that NAA.gov.au may have something.

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NSW archives says the deed poll records are on film, available in the reading room -- so not online.

It also says that applying to do so was not -- and is not -- required by law.  Basically, so long as you're not changing your name for nefarious purposes, it is mostly done by consistent usage.  Back in the day, many who wished to change their names did so by taking out notices in the newspapers.  Pretty much the only possible legal hitch was land ownership related.

Answer 1

I am not sure in other areas but in Canada, people didn't, in most cases change their name legally, there was no central registry,  They just started using another name and married and had children under the name they had chosen.  Alot of people never divorced at that time either, just went on changing their original surname by one or two letters and remarried and had other families.

Good luck in your venture.