Does this signify Adoption??

[donut]

I wonder if anyone could advise me regarding the following.
I am researching a family in which several names appear for the mother on a birth certificate.  Could anyone suggest an explanation.

(I have not listed the actual names because of the element of adoption)

I have a birth certificate for Mary Smith on which her mother is listed as "Kathleen Brown, formerly Jones , otherwise Long.

It is this phrase, "otherwise Long" that I don't understand.

On Kathleen Brown's marriage certificate to Arthur Smith she gives her maiden name as Jones and her father is listed as Fred Jones.  She is "a Spinster."   I am assuming from this that she is neither a widow or a divorcee.  The only other explanation I can think of is that she was born Long but was then adopted by the Jones family. Is that likely?

Is it possible to investigate an adoption which would have taken place in approx 1910.  (Kathleen died in 1948)
I should be grateful for any advice. Tunod

[aghadowey]

You haven't mentioned where Kathleen was born c1910 but if England then that was before the start of official adoptions that we know today (earlier usually just an informal arrangement between relatives or friends).

'Otherwise' might not mean 'adoption' at all- one possibility is that Kathleen was raised by a stepfather/mother's partner and also known by his name.

[crisane]

"otherwise' may just also mean that she used the name Long just because she wanted to. Another explanation could be that she was/had been in a relationship with someone named ? Long

[stanmapstone]

There is an explanation for the use of "otherwise"  at http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/births.htm#COL5

Stan