Switching of first and middle names-COMPLETED Thankyou

[mkcmiller]

I am wondering whether it was usual/possible for people to switch around their names?

My Great Nan on her marriage cert is down as May E Rose

She was born in India, but the only birth possibility in the India Office records is an Eileen May Rose B:1904

The family moved back to Edmonton, and on searching the 1911 census, the only suggestion it came up with was also an Eileen May Rose B:1904

Now I am waiting for the marriage cert to arrive so I can get more details and am wondering if it shows her as May Eileen Rose whether it could be one and the same person, but she changed her name around?

Her daughter, my nan, was called May Dorothy, but was always known by her middle name.....

Your thoughts would be much appreciated, ...Michelle

[aghadowey]

Switching around names happened (and still happens) all the time so hopefully the marriage certificate will help solve your mystery.
My husband has 3 Christian names and is known by the 2nd one. Only official documents use the 1st one which causes a bit of confusion.
After telling a doctor once that he is known by his middle name all appointments for that clinic now come addressed to him with 2nd name and then 1st one!
When our children were born we insisted that they only have 2 Christian names and would be known by the first one!

[kerryb]

I've learnt by bitter experience that you have to take all possibilities when working with more than one name.  My great great grandfather  is William Henry on his birth certificates and then through census records, marriage and death is William or Henry or Henry William or William Henry.  And is also referred as different on children's marriage certificates etc.

I hope you have success with the marriage certificate    It certainly makes the chase interesting.

Kerry

[mkcmiller]

Thank you sooo much, I am thinking (and hoping) that it is going to turn out to be one and the same.......or else I am stuck!!!!

Michelle