Christian name changes (General)
by mikedavies 
, Huddersfield, Monday, September 29, 2008, 12:28 (5909 days ago)
Any idea why my Gt Gt Grandfather Paul Danis (Davis) listed in the 1841 and 1851 census would then be William Paul Davis in 1861, William P Davis in 1871, William Paul Davies in 1881, Paul Davies in 1891 and William P Davies in 1901?
On his son's birth certificate in 1873 he is listed as Paul Davies.
I can understand the transcription discrepancies between Danis/Davis/Davies, but could the constant changes in the listing of his christian names just be that he was given two names but didn't always use them? It certainly makes tracking him down a bit more difficult.
Any suggestions welcome.
Mike Davies
Christian name changes
by admin 
, Forest of Dean, Monday, September 29, 2008, 13:56 (5909 days ago) @ mikedavies
The use of names in different ways on records like you have listed above was very common. The authorities were not strict about writing down the full names in those days. It often depended on what the enumerator or officials though was appropriate to write down.
Christian name changes
by Simone , Monday, September 29, 2008, 22:17 (5909 days ago) @ mikedavies
Not just Christian names either Mike! Surnames too!!
I have a family who used Ward or Marshall - eventually found that Ward was a grandmothers maiden name.
Also a family using Greatly or Watkins, name of father was William Greatly Watkins.
Don't make it easy do they!
Simone x