Hi Joejoe
Yes, you need not despair just yet, it is quite possible that he was named somewhere.
You should try the Guardians Minute book of the workhouse - hopefully locals will know where that is to be found, but usually it is the record office. It could be that there was a bastardy (or affiliation) order made against the father, or some other record of who paid for the woman's lying-in.
Another poosibility is that the local vicar recorded the father's name when the child was baptised.
Did the mother subsequently marry? And how was the child named? A surprising number were named after the putative father, some having his surname as a middle name.
let us know if there is anything specific that you need help with.
kind regards, Arranroots
