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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: gennig on Saturday 26 April 14 11:18 BST (UK)

Title: Why would they change their Surname?
Post by: gennig on Saturday 26 April 14 11:18 BST (UK)

Hi All

The Greco Family continues to give me trouble.

1st I find Ambrose Greco who arrived in Australia in 1908 changed his surname to Gregory  between 1913 & 1924.
Now I find his brother appears to on changed his name too.
Bernard GRECO married Rose Emily GEORGE in 1909.
Their daughter Haidee Theresa V GRECO is born in 1910
In the 1911 census the family is living in Watford, Hertfordshire as Greco.
Their son Melville Bernard F GRECO  is born in West Ham 1913 and another son is born in West Ham 1919.

Bernard dies Jan 1940 as Bernard COOPER
Rose Emily dies 10 Feb 1950 as Rose Emily COOPER
Haidee V T COOPER marries June Qtr 1941 Ilford Essex married name CALVER.
Melville Bernard F COOPER died Oct 1998 in Wales.

This makes me believe this is the same family, but why would they change their name.
Would they have done it legally? If so, can where can I find the documentation?

cheers

Genni

Title: Re: Why would they change their Surname?
Post by: Jennaya on Saturday 26 April 14 11:23 BST (UK)

Hi Genni

Back in those days people often changed their surnames to "Anglicise" them. It helped them to fit in better to an English based society.

There were also people who changed their names during the war to avoid being detained as enemy aliens.

Names could be changed by common usage rather than by official channels.

Regards
Jennaya

Title: Re: Why would they change their Surname?
Post by: hjstort on Saturday 26 April 14 11:55 BST (UK)

The London Gazette dated 15 September 1933 records Bernard Greco's change of name to Bernard Cooper by Deed Poll dated 6 September 1933

Title: Re: Why would they change their Surname?
Post by: gennig on Saturday 26 April 14 14:13 BST (UK)

Thanks hjstort for that information.

cheers
Genni

Title: Re: Why would they change their Surname?
Post by: Rayjamgor on Tuesday 06 May 14 18:00 BST (UK)

I had a great aunt Nan who made her husband Joe change his name from Marjoribanks to Marchbanks before she married him . They were living in Dagenham before heading to Glasgow then onto Toronto . Can you access if someone changed there name by deed poll?

Title: Re: Why would they change their Surname?
Post by: Galium on Tuesday 06 May 14 18:34 BST (UK)

Marjoribanks is one of those English names which isn't pronounced as it is spelled. (Eg. Featherstonehaugh - pronounced 'Fanshaw'). So Marchbanks is  the spelling of Marjoribanks as it is pronounced. Maybe your great aunt didn't want to have to keep explaining.

It isn't necessary to change a name by deed poll. All Mr Marjoribanks would have to do is to start spelling it Marchbanks.  However, it can also be done by an announcement in a newspaper.