2011 census form peek

[ScouseBoy]

And what about those names which can be given to both boys and girls, such as Hilary, Beverly, Ceri  and several more.              You could have a family all with the same first and second name.

And what about people with names such as Albert Hall, or Penny Lane.

Can you think of any more funny examples?

[davidft]

And what about those names which can be given to both boys and girls, such as Hilary, Beverly, Ceri  and several more.              You could have a family all with the same first and second name.

And what about people with names such as Albert Hall, or Penny Lane.

Can you think of any more funny examples?

Christmas Day
Easter Day
Jack Frost
Harry A Long 

All real people found in the BMD indexes

[Sloe Gin]

"First Name" - that's annoying for me, as I have two forenames and am always called by my second one.  The first one is a closely guarded secret, except for official documents. 

As it's supposed to be confidential, and only used for gathering statistics, is there any need for them to ask for names at all 

In your place, Gillg, I would just put the name I am known by.

[netgrrl79]

"First Name" - that's annoying for me, as I have two forenames and am always called by my second one.  The first one is a closely guarded secret, except for official documents. 

As it's supposed to be confidential, and only used for gathering statistics, is there any need for them to ask for names at all 

In your place, Gillg, I would just put the name I am known by.

Gillg - isn't the census an official document then? I am known as Katie but it says Kathryn on my birth certificate - so Kathryn is what goes down on the census. I know how hard it was trying to find my OH's grandmother's birth registrations as they were all known by their middle names on the census.

[Gillg]

It's a tradition in my family going back generations to give the child two names and then call him/her by the second one, so as you say finding relatives has been quite difficult.  In my case I find my first name so awful that it has blighted my life.  I was named after a rich childless aunt, probably in the hope that she would leave me some money  .   In the end she went a bit bonkers and crossed my brother out of her will and was on the point of crossing me out when she died.  We shared what she left between us, something we had agreed between ourselves beforehand when we realised the way things were going!

My second forename has a shortened version which is used by all the family, but I wouldn't use that on a form, just the full second forename.

[Nick29]

As far as I'm aware, the name collecting is to make sure that they're able to sort out queries, in the case of non-filling of forms, or mistakes on forms.  In any case, under English law, you can call yourself what you like, as long as you don't do it for the purposes of deception.

And..... the fact that something is confidential doesn't stop it being used internally by the government 

[ScouseBoy]

As far as I'm aware, the name collecting is to make sure that they're able to sort out queries, in the case of non-filling of forms, or mistakes on forms.  In any case, under English law, you can call yourself what you like, as long as you don't do it for the purposes of deception.

And..... the fact that something is confidential doesn't stop it being used internally by the government 

I believe that the ONS have given an assurance that any data collected will only be used for statistical purposes. In my opinion that equates to an assurance that individual names will not be disclosed to other government departments.

[Sloe Gin]

As far as I'm aware, the name collecting is to make sure that they're able to sort out queries, in the case of non-filling of forms, or mistakes on forms. 

maybe ..... but it's Not Really Necessary, is it?

especially if it's true that "any data collected will only be used for statistical purposes (and) individual names will not be disclosed to other government departments."



Yeah, right.

[Gillg]

Incidentally, are we all filling in the form online but also filling in and keeping the paper form for future generations who might be interested in the family's history?  Rumour has it that this could be the last census to be taken because so much information is held about us anyway.

Gillg