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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: lanshaw on Saturday 11 February 06 05:16 GMT (UK)

Title: adoptions
Post by: lanshaw on Saturday 11 February 06 05:16 GMT (UK)

Does anyone know how adoptions were done in the 1880's, or how a persons birth surname could be changed?

Lanshaw

Title: Re: adoptions
Post by: Yonks Ago on Sunday 12 February 06 12:42 GMT (UK)

Hi Lanshaw,
In my case the children just took on the surname of their Step Father..this was in the late 1800's..
Yonks Ago

Title: Re: adoptions
Post by: bianca1978 on Wednesday 15 February 06 17:35 GMT (UK)

hi

i had this occur in my family tree if an unmarried mother married the child jus took on the stepfathers name no one bothered in my case on his birth certificate was dyson but on his marrage certificate it says conway even on his fathers space my grandfather was noted as his father on his childrens birthcertificates he is conway even tho legally he wasnt a conway at all

Title: Re: adoptions
Post by: Yonks Ago on Thursday 16 February 06 12:35 GMT (UK)

I think it was sometime in the early 1900's that adoptions came into law..is there anyone out there that knows if this is correct!
Yonks Ago

Title: Re: adoptions
Post by: mcrem on Saturday 18 February 06 15:59 GMT (UK)

I think it was around 1927 that adoptions were officially recorded. Up to then it all seemed very informal.

Title: Re: adoptions
Post by: Valda on Saturday 18 February 06 16:48 GMT (UK)

There was no legal adoption until 1927 (Family Records Centre index starts from this date) - the act was passed in 1926. From that date those children legally adopted had the same rights as a 'sibling' who was the natural child of married parents (children born out of wedlock even if their parents later married still remained (in legal terms) illegitimate until a similar act also of 1926.
Families brought up children as their own before the act or children were 'fostered with couples. In the past or today - you can change your name to any name you want. Today all you need to do is inform all the necessary authorities that in future you wish to be called for instance 'Screaming Lord Sutch'. You don't need to change your name by deed poll - actors do it all the time and so do women in particular, usually after a divorce when they might choose to revert to their former maiden name, or if they are living with someone but not married to them, but wish to be known by their name - less of an issue today than it was in the past.

Regards

Valda