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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: MIG79 on Wednesday 06 March 19 21:34 GMT (UK)

Title: Alias meaning
Post by: MIG79 on Wednesday 06 March 19 21:34 GMT (UK)

I have found the baptism of my GG Grandfather, Henry Marshall, hand written in the Parish Register of Acton Trussell 16th June 1805. It's on FindMyPast. There are so many Marshalls in there it must be a large family if I can get it in order.

While looking at the Parish Register microfilm I notice lots of entries, baptisms, burials for people named as Marshall alias Tubber.
Can any one tell me what the alias signifies? Or how I should interpret it?

Then I wonder are the Marshall alias Tubbers related to the Marshall family from which I believe I am descended?

Ian

Title: Re: Alias meaning
Post by: stanmapstone on Wednesday 06 March 19 21:41 GMT (UK)

As you probably know  alias means "also known as".  In other words the person was known by more than one name. Aliases were used in cases of illegitimacy, upon the remarriage of a parent, [i.e. if a mother remarried, her children might take the name of their new stepfather, with their original name as an alias - or vice-versa]; upon inheriting property from a female relative, etc.; to differentiate between different holders of common surnames; to indicate stepchildren or fostered children. In some cases the alias form was inherited for several generations, and was similar to a double barrelled surname Discovering the reason for an alias is not straightforward, and each case has to be treated on it's merits. Even in cases of illegitimacy there is no rule whether the father's or the mother's name was given first.
Stan

Title: Re: Alias meaning
Post by: KGarrad on Wednesday 06 March 19 22:06 GMT (UK)

Stan is correct - it can get very complicated! ;D

There is an article here on the use of Aliases:
https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/NamesPersonal/AliasesDiscriminant

The article is based on the use in Devon (it was quite widespread in Devon & Cornwall), but the views expressed are valid throughout the country.

Title: Re: Alias meaning
Post by: MIG79 on Wednesday 06 March 19 22:35 GMT (UK)

Thanks for replies.
More to read.. and then understand!

Title: Re: Alias meaning
Post by: pinot on Thursday 07 March 19 00:06 GMT (UK)

Small footnote: alias (Latin) translates as 'otherwise', these days aka (Also Known As) is more common.

Title: Re: Alias meaning
Post by: barryd on Thursday 07 March 19 03:22 GMT (UK)

In 2019  aka (Also Known As) normally used in Police Reports as the less honest amongst us need to keep changing their names.