Change of name - Help required.

[Helenw52]

Just found the birth certificate of my Uncle. He has been recorded under his Mother's second name, (Not her surname, as we would know it by) with no Father recorded. My Uncle was always known by the surname of his Father. Is there any records I can check - when he changed his name? Would the Father been able to change the surname? Thinking of the school records - when he turned 5. Where are the primary school records held from mid 1930s.

[Lucy2]

Hi Helen

If you google ... "NZSG + school records" ... you'll get several results which give details of the collections they, (NZ Society of Genealogists), hold.   

There are also instructions for non-members on how to gain access to these school records.

   ~  Lu

[KGarrad]

I think I am right in saying that NZ law closely follows (followed?) the laws of England & Wales (Scotland has a different legal system).

Under the laws of England & Wales, a person can call themselves anything they like, just as long as there is no intention to deceive or defraud.

[Lucy2]

 My Uncle was always known by the surname of his Father. Is there any records I can check - when he changed his name?     Would the Father been able to change the surname?

Hi again

Hopefully there'll be something for you amongst NZSG school records    (see earlier post).

If that doesn't prove helpful, you could try electoral rolls.   Your uncle would have supplied his own information upon enrolment to vote.

Yes, the Father (or any other guardian of a child) could change the name ... but to avoid prosecution, there would need to be a valid or compelling reason for doing so.   
[The same applied to adults - changing or altering their names. ]

   ~  Lu

[Lucy2]

Hi KGarrad

.... our posts crossed.   

And yes, you are correct  >

Under the laws of England & Wales, a person can call themselves anything they like, just as long as there is no intention to deceive or defraud.

.

I believe that same law still applies to this day.

    ~  Lu

[Helenw52]

Thanks Lu. Regretfully I couldn't figure out how to access the NZSG School records, as I'm not a subscriber - also the info re Electoral roll. I'll try to see what they have, but I'm pretty sure he used his Father's name at a younger age.

[Helenw52]

Electoral roll showed his Father's surname. So it's probably a name change - to show his father's surname.

[Lucy2]

Hi Helen

Do you want to put names of uncle and his father here ?   We may be able to help further.   

  ~  Lu

[Helenw52]

Thanks for your help. He was born Joseph Moy, and died as Joseph Chong. I always knew him as Joe Chong, from the 50s. Primary school was Manaia mid-late 1930s.