RootsChat.Com

Hi Rootschatters,

I have recently been going through extended families and DNA matches.  I am finding that a good many individuals were registered and even Baptised / Christened without a second first name but later find they have a acquired a second first name which they used more than their birth name. 

Was it possible that this may have been connected to a Confirmation Ceremony when they took a second name?    or was it common just to decide to have a second name.

It's got me wondering .  It has also made identifying people quite awkward.
comments please  and thanks for ideas. 
Essnell

Yes it became very popular to have two first names and for those who didn't they simply either used a family name or chose something they liked and continued to use it for the rest of their lives.

Pheno

I know that my local family history society has a project called 'My Tree' which collates all donations of family tree info (drawn out trees & documents) and then scans all such material.

An index is created of all the main names and the 'My Tree' project then has a searchable database of all such info, which can be copied out to members supplying enough info to tie them into one of these trees.  Some are only drawn on scraps of paper and some are more or less printed books so the info varies but what we have is available to those with a possible connection.

You could see if your local family history group/or the group that covers the area of most of your research has a similar project and donate your info to them.

Donations most often come from house clearances after death but more and more are being donated during lifetimes now.

Pheno

There won't be a marriage certificate back in 1793 but you might be able to find the banns relating to this marriage which might state their marital status - unless that is what you are meaning?

Pheno

Presumably should read that Henry George had been married to Florence for 4 years rather than 24 years!

Pheno (maths degree)