Surname change - how to discover original surnane

[scotmum]

Mmm...looks like someone has incorrectly, it would seem, named Dora as David at:

https://www.greatwardundee.com/entry/d-rennie/

There is a service number showing S/2993. A quick check shows there was a David Rennie with that service number, in the Seaforth Highlanders.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D482652I

Although, I now wonder if, somehow, the newspaper article mixed up the two D. Rennie chaps?

 

[EdithKennedy21]

Would like to thank everyone and give an update too

Diane my cousin sends her thanks also and she is going to pass on details everyone has sent via this Forum to Helen  the Granddaughter of  Dora Rennie

It is odd that he appeared to live in same house at time of his death as when he was married to Helen

Maybe the loss of three children contributed to Helen migrating with four of their children to Canada

Another 1st cousin of mine based in Perth Scotland has forwarded Army Records and Marriage certificate  for Dora Rennie

Amazing what everyone has done using their own free time to help me

Diane thinks Helen will appreciate knowing everything you have uncovered  even it it takes apart the death in WW1

Helen is an elderly single lady - late 80’s - with a Nephew who visits regularly whom Diane feels will take up research on his Aunt’s behalf


Thanks to you all

Edith

[EdithKennedy21]

Hi
Have Helen’s parents names courtesy of my cousin who lives in Perth Scotland

George Ryan and Mary Jane Sutherland

My cousin has Dora’s Father as Angelino Rennie so different to what Diane said and what someone on Forum sourced
Marriage data sourced  - have a copy

She looked at 1911 and 1921 census
Nothing sourced

Helen the Granddaughter said Grandmother Helen Ryan born in Newcastle which is where I live hence Diane asking me best way to find a surname
Diane then said data in Canada has her born in Scotland



You are all stars for helping solve the riddle on behalf of Dora’s Granddaughter


Edith 

[Josephine]

It might be worth it to purchase the birth records for Dora's children, in case his full given name was listed instead of just Dora (if Dora was an abbreviation or nickname), and also in case a middle name was listed.

[aghadowey]

One of the eldest sons of Dora Rennie and Helen Ryan was named George McPherson Ryan Rennie.

Therefore this is likely the marriage, in Scotland, of Helen Ryan's parents-
RYAN GEORGE MCPHERSO[N] to SUTHERLAND MARY J 1878 140 / 6 Rafford

[Millmoor]

I think she could be the Helen born in South Shields 1887 mmn Sutherland. and showing as born in Hebburn in the 1891 census - parents George and Mary J living in Wallsend. This family can be found in Elgin in the 1901 census.

There is a death for 84 year old Mary J Ryan in St Andrew Dundee in 1944 , other name Sutherland.

[Millmoor]

I have edited my last post . The Ryan family are in Elgin in 1901

George 49 b Forres
Mary J 40 b Rafford
Hellen 13 b Newcastle
Elizabeth 10 b Newcastle
Andrew 8 b Newcastle
Jane  3 b Moray
John 7 b Alves
James 0 b Elgin
Murdina Granddaughter 0 b Elgin

In 1911 they are in Dundee in St Andrew R D Ref 282/ 4 4/ 20

George 60
Mary Jane 52
Andrew 18
John 16
Jane 13
James 10

Murdina is in Dundee but at a different reference.

In 1921 George 70 and Mary 61 are at 282/ 3 57/ 4 in St Andrew R D

Possible death for George in St Andrew in 1932 age 82.

William

[Josephine]

Am I correct in thinking that no one knows when Dora's family name was changed or who changed it (Dora, his father, his grandfather)?

What if Dora's parents stayed in Italy? If Dora's original surname was Travolta, for example, and his parents stayed in Italy, their surname would have stayed Travolta, even after Dora changed his surname to Rennie. In that case, on Dora's official documents, wouldn't his father's surname be listed as Travolta and not Rennie?

If so, father and son having the same surname on Dora's official documents suggests that his father also emigrated to Scotland or England. But has anyone found any evidence of this?

Is there another option? What if Rennie was an Anglicization of Dora's Italian surname? I've seen some records on Ancestry for people with the surname Reni living in the US, who were born in Italy. Is Reni an Italian surname? If so, might this be a possible clue?

[bearkat]

There is an online tree (always needs to be treated with caution) which says that Dora's parents were Agastino Rennie and Maria Bianchi.

Included is Andrew's marriage licence which says that his father was Dora who was born in Italy.