middle name does it always point to a possible fathers name

[fallenleaves]

Hi everyone just a thought really..
Just recently i aquired info regarding the surname thats given for my grandmothers middle name when she was registered in early part of 19 c.. 
Would any of you researching illegitmate ancestors have you found that this points to the fathers surname ..
Many thanks..

[Billyblue]

Yes, it seems it often does, but not always

Dawn M

[ambers]

I also found one person had dropped his mothers surname, and used his middle name as his surname later on in life (his fathers), and has been confirmed by that family.

Ambers

[toni*]

In answer to your question no, not always the middle name could come from anywhere really some suggestions :
 
A religious name
A chartist name
A popular member of society
A rich landowner
A family friend
The grandmothers maiden name
After the Prime Minister (lots of William Galdstone …….. out there)

[Dave the Walrus]

Hi,

Simply, no. My father's middle name was Wattie, which was his mother's surname.

Best wishes,

Dave

[Plummiegirl]

No my father and one of his grandfathers middle name was the grandfathers grandmothers maiden name.

Dad never knew this and I only found out when researching family.  Not even sure if his grandad knew.  And as Dad spent a lot of his time with his granddad I would have thought it would have been mentioned.

Have 2 g/g/aunts both to same mother, both illegitimate and both in later life adopted a middle name to make it appear that they knew who their father was.  But as one on her marriage cert. named a man who never existed with a totally different name one does have to wonder.

[suziq]

Hi
I have 2 girls in the same family who have the middle name of Boniface which is the surname of the man who their mother went on to marry a year or so later!!!!!!!!! But have come across others where the mothers maiden name is given as the middle name(especially in Scotland)

Suziq

[geniespot]

I have an illegitimate ancestor who gave himself a middle name, William, and then called his son William and gave it to another son as a middle name. William was not a common name in his family so did he know his father and adopt his Christian name? I have wondered.
geniespot

[pinefamily]

Regarding illegitimate births, sometimes, but not always, a surname used as a middle name can be a clue to the father's identity. In older times, this could be verified by checking parish records for bastardy orders.