Change of surname on 1901 census

[rumneyt]

On the 1891 census I have my Gt Gt Grandmother Margaret Mellia living with her parents, John and Margaret, sister  Eliza and son Joseph with the surname Millia. In 1901 my Gt Gt Grandmother is married to William Thompson, and I have a marriage certificate for Her sister Eliza marrying James Cant in 1891, on which it states her father as John Mellia.  I have been unable to find John Mellia since the 1891 census, presuming he had died.  I then found on Family Search the same marriage for Eiza Mellia and James Cant stating her father as John (Gannon) Melia. I then looked for John Gannon on the 1901 census and found him as widowed living with another daughter Hannah Murphy, Eliza who is now Gannon and not Cant and her son Walter Gannon. I do know that Walter was brought up with my Grandmother and is on the 1911 census as Walter Cant living with my Gt Gt grandparents.
Has anyone any idea what could have possibly happened?
many thanks for any ideas
Jenny

[suzard]

In 1901 my Gt Gt Grandmother I do know that Walter was brought up with my Grandmother and is on the 1911 census as Walter Cant living with my Gt Gt grandparents.

Jenny

We are not allowed to post details of 1911 census -but it may be worth you rechecking the image.
It seems Walter Cant 's full name (possibly) was John Walter Cant -he is entered as such on 1911 census you quoted - his birth reg FreeBMD JOHN WALTER CANT Sept qtr 1892 Durham 10a 410

Also was John Joseph Mellia - birth reg FreeBMD JOHN JOSEPH MELLIA Jun qtr 1889 Durham 10a 417

Hope I'm not complicating things more!!!!

Will see what else I can find

Suz

[heywood]

Hello,
1881 4964/113/19 has John And Margaret Gammon (transcription) with daughters Eliza and Ellen.
 Living in Shincliffe.
Heywood

[suzard]

They are Gannon in 1871

1871 Long Double Row Shincliffe Durham
John Gannon Head M 34 Coal Miner Ireland
Margaret wife 34 Ireland
Ann daughter 15 brick Carrier Chesterfield
Mary daughter 13 Brick Carrier Chesterfield
Catherine daughter 9 Scholar Chesterfield
Hannah daughter 6 Chesterfield
Margaret daughter 3 M Rainton Durham
Eliza daughter 1 mth Shincliffe Durham
RG10 4969 139 44

so daughter Hannah age 6 would be widow Hannah Murphy in 1901??

Suz

[heywood]

And Mealie in 1861 2528/12/18

Browns Yard Chesterfield

John Mealie 30 yrs coal miner b Ireland
Margaret 22yrs b Ireland
Ann6 yrs b Brinnington Derbys
Mary 3 yrs b Chesterfield
Catherine 2 months b Chesterfield

[rumneyt]

Brilliant, many thanks for your help, never thought to go backwards from finding John Gannon in 1901, just presumed they had always been Mellia up until that point!  Still curious why they have used two surnames as Gannon has never appeared on any of the Baptism/Marriage etc certs. I have obtained.

Suz, you are correct, sorry I should have put John Walter Cant in my first post, and yes that is the correct birth year for John Joseph Mellia.

Once again many thanks.
Jenny

[suzard]

It seems the first three children used the name melia (or similar)
These look like their baptisms
all at Annunciation Church chesterfield Derbys
and maybe "Ann" was "Sarah Ann"?

21 Oct 1855 Sarah Ann melia
12 Sept 1858 Mary melia
Catherine Melia 21 Apr 1861

no parents names given

it may be worth purchasing one of the childrens birth certs to see what mother's maiden name was
Perhaps it was Melia and she was not married to John? Only a guess

Suz

[rumneyt]

I have Margaret Mellia's birth certificate 1868 born Rainton and states the mother as Margaret Mellia formerly McHugh. Wondered if they were maried in Ireland, but have been looking for ages for a McHugh Mellia marriage, should I be looking for Gannon? Is this unusual or have you come across this before?
Thanks again
Jenny

[suzard]

how about this marriage

21 Nov 1854
Chesterfield derbys
Margaret McHugh
father Michael McHugh
married
John Maley

I believe one of the children on FreeBMD births is written as maley

Suz