Change of surname from MURRELL to BROWN (General)
Although I have a degree in History I am a novice at family history research and really need some help!
I'm looking for someone to help me, or even help me understand some strange anomalies in my family history. I have been researching the family name Murrell and can find my ancestors Arnold Murrell and his son Joseph in 1861 census in the forest of dean area. They then disappear until 1891 when they return but not as Murrell but as Brown. I am 100% sure this is them and can trace them up until 1911 when Joseph is in the census as Joseph Brown Murrell with Brown scribbled out.
I can find the baptism and marriage records for the family - all in the name Murrell. They look a little like this:
1. Joseph Murrell marries Harriet in 1826. Has a son Arnold.
2. Arnold marries Winifred in 1851. Has a son Joseph.
3. Joseph [2nd] marries Sarah Ann in 1886. Has a son Arnold.
4. Arnold [2nd] marries Elizabeth in 1911.
It is Arnold 1st and Joseph 2nd that change from Murrell to Brown between the years 1861-91. Joseph and Arnold [2nd] and family continue to be Browns untill 1911. I can't find any of them before 1861 in the census, or after 1861 up until the name change which shows in 1891. Why?
Does anyone have any ideas? Can anyone help?
Change of surname from MURRELL to BROWN
by m p griffiths 
, Saturday, August 08, 2009, 10:22 (5660 days ago) @ ilovewilfie
The family are on the 1871 census, Abinghall, District 29, Page 1 as BROWN
Gloster Road, Harpers Mills
Arnold BROWN - 44 - born Clearwell - Miller
Winefred BROWN - 44 born Flaxley
Emma - daughter age 11 - born East Dean
Joseph BROWN - age 8
Arnold BROWN - age 6
Rose BROWN - age 4
Comfort REYNOLDS - mother in law (Wid) age 76 born Blaisden - Seamstress
Harriet BROWN - age 24, Niece, Dairy Maid, born Longhope (unmarried) ??????
(Harriett BROWN, 30 March 1845, Longhope, parents William & Anne)
Amos CONSTANT - age 50 Lodger - Ag Lab. born Longhope
1881 Census, Abinghall, District 29 - Page 11 of 12
Back to the name MURRELL
Arnold MURRELL - 55 - Miller (born Clearwell)
Winnefred - 55
Joseph 18 - a Miner
There is an Arnold BROWN age 12 Male Servant on the 1841 census for Westbury on Severn, at Lower Ley
Winfred REYNOLDS and Arnold MURRELL married Sept Qtr 1851 (Westbury)
Arnold BROWN,
Rosana - 13
Elizabeth REYNOLDS, Niece - age 12 visitor - born Westbury
Henry ADAMS - 16, Miner Longhope
On the 1851 census for Flaxley, District 8 page 3 of 14
There is
Arnold BROWN, age 28, Manservant, working for the Miller. As Winifred was born Flaxley !!!!!
1851 census Flaxley - Upper Forge
Samuel REYNOLDS - age 57 born Blaisdon (Farm Labourer)
Comfort REYNOLDS - 50 born Flaxley
Winifred REYNOLDS - 23 ditto
William REYNOLDS - 15 ditto
Ellen REYNOLDS - 11 ditto
James REYNOLDS - 8
Arnold MERELL - christened 28 March 1828 (Clearwell) parents Joseph and Harriett
Change of surname from MURRELL to BROWN
Thank you so much!
Do you have any idea why they would have swapped and changed their surnames? Do you know if this is common? There are rumors in the family of some kind of debt being owed, could they possibly be trying to avoid this?
Thank you again.
Change of surname on Census Returns
by m p griffiths , Sunday, August 09, 2009, 08:59 (5659 days ago) @ ilovewilfie
My x Grandfather was also a Miller who got into debt (family papers)....
1861 Census Rendcombe GLOS
William WICKENDEN - age 41 Miller, born Rendcombe ( Coln St Aldwyn on the 1851 census)
Margaret WICKENDEN - age 40 - born Rendcombe (nee BURROWS)
John WICKENDEN - age 15 - born Rendcombe
1871 census they moved to Blakeney Road, Awre to live with their younger Son William who was the local Butcher (still calling themselves WICKENDEN)
1881 Census, William and Margaret moved to Swindon,Wiltshire where he worked as a railway labourer on the GWR and going by William's mother's maiden name GREEN i.e.
John WICKENDEN married Ann GREEN 19 December 1811 Coln St Aldwins
[/i]
6 Brunel Street, Swindon, Wiltshire
William GREEN - age 58, Railway Labourer, born Coln St Alwins
Margaret GREEN - age 56, Rendcombe,
Martha WICKENDEN - Granddaughter age 5, born Ruardean
and still hiding in 1891 census
26 Farnsby Street, Swindon, Wiltshire
William GREEN age 72, Machineman, born Glos. Rendcombe
Margaret - 68 born Rendcombe
Susan GREEN - Sister age 65 born Coln St Alwins
John WICKENDEN - Lodger - age 41 Railwlay Clerk - born Rendcombe
William WICKENDEN - Lodger, age 17, Machineman - born Blakeney (my Grandfather)
Both William and Margaret's death certificate give their correct surname.
On Margaret's death certificate, she was listed as being the Widow of a Retired Farmer!!!
My history isn't good.... but I think Millers had a 'tough time' in this era
Harriet BROWN 1845 Longhope (MURRELL-REYNOLDS-BROWN link)
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Sunday, August 09, 2009, 09:29 (5659 days ago) @ ilovewilfie
The temporary choice of the BROWN surname "seems" to be linked to the Niece Harriet. So now to find a link to Arnold or Winifred :-) or is the census trying to tell us she is a Niece to Comfort Reynolds
1871 Gloster Rd Harpers Mill
Arnold Brown Head 44 abt 1827 Male Clearwell
Winefred Brown Wife 44 abt 1827 Female Flaxley
Emma Brown Daughter 11 abt 1860 Female East Dean
Joseph Brown Son 8 abt 1863 Male East Dean
Arnold Brown Son 6 abt 1865 Male East Dean
Rose Brown Daughter 4 abt 1867 Female East Dean
Comfort Reynolds Mother 76 abt 1795 Female Blaisden
Harriet Brown Niece 24 abt 1847 Female Longhope
Amos Constant Lodger 50 abt 1821 Male Longhope
1861 Deerhurst
Harriet Brown abt 1844 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England Servant ,
1851 Longhope
William Brown abt 1803 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England Head Longhope,
Ann Brown abt 1801 N Wife ,
Harriet Brown abt 1844 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England Daughter
Hannah Brown abt 1849 Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire, England Daughter
Year: 1845
Month: Mar
Day: 30
Parents_Surname: BROWN
Child_Forenames: Harriett
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Anne
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Longhope
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: R N Raikes Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P206 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 93
Parish_Chapel: Longhope
1841 Lower and Upper Longhope,
William Brown abt 1806 Gloucestershire,
Ann Brown abt 1801 Gloucestershire, ,
Joseph Brown abt 1828 Gloucestershire, ,
John Brown abt 1832 Gloucestershire,
Amelia Brown abt 1835 Gloucestershire, ,
Mary Ann Brown abt 1838 Gloucestershire, ,
Eliza Brown abt 1840 Gloucestershire, ,
Year: 1824
Month: Nov
Day: 21
Grooms_Surname: BROWN
Grooms_Forenames: William
Grooms_Age:
Groom_Condition: Batchelor
Grooms_Occupation:
Grooms_Residence: Longhope
Grooms_Fathers_Surname:
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames:
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation:
Brides_Surname: HARRISON
Brides_Forenames: Anne
Brides_Age:
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Longhope
Brides_Fathers_Surname:
Brides_Fathers_Forenames:
Brides_Fathers_Occupation:
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: They both mark
Witness_1: Mark of Thomas Williams
Witness_2: Mark of Sarah Moore ?]
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Willia]m Pashley ?] Curate
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes: Film records are very faint and all around this period are hard to read. In this record the surname of the bride was not clear so best guess given
Register_Reference: P206 IN 1/6
Page_Number: 14
Parish_Chapel: Longhope
<< << << << << Comfort REYNOLDS
Year: 1820
Month: Aug
Day: 28
Grooms_Surname: REYNOLDS
Grooms_Forenames: Samuel
Grooms_Age:
Groom_Condition:
Grooms_Occupation:
Grooms_Residence:
Grooms_Fathers_Surname:
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames:
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation:
Brides_Surname: CLIFFORD
Brides_Forenames: Comfort
Brides_Age:
Brides_Condition:
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence:
Brides_Fathers_Surname:
Brides_Fathers_Forenames:
Brides_Fathers_Occupation:
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark:
Witness_1:
Witness_2:
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister:
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P154/12
Page_Number: 82
Parish_Chapel: Gloucester St Mary de Lode
She is probably Comfort CONSTANCE ( given Amos CONSTANCE in the houshold too)
Year 1795
Month Aug
Day 9
Parents Surname COLSTANT
Child Forenames Comfort
Fathers Forenames John
Mothers Forenames Mary
Mothers Surname
Residence
Occupation
Officiating Minister Tho[mas] Parker Vicar
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes This is assumed to be an error and should be CONSTANT
Register Reference P83 IN 1/1
Page Number 169
Parish Chapel Churcham
which might just be where the BROWN name came from, kept in the back pocket for the rainy day !
Year 1711
Month Apl
Day 16
Grooms Surname CONSTANT
Grooms Forenames Johannes
Grooms Age
Groom Condition
Grooms Occupation
Grooms Residence Churcham
Grooms Fathers Surname
Grooms Fathers Forenames
Grooms Fathers Occupation
Brides Surname BROWN
Brides Forenames Maria
Brides Age
Brides Condition
Brides Occupation
Brides Residence Tibberton
Brides Fathers Surname
Brides Fathers Forenames
Brides Fathers Occupation
Licence or Banns
Date of Banns
Signature or Mark
Witness 1
Witness 2
Other Witnesses
Officiating Minister
Event Marriage
Memoranda
Notes
Register Reference PMF154/2
Page Number 44
Parish Chapel Gloucester Cathedral
<< << << < MURRELL joins REYNOLDS
Year: 1851
Month: Oct
Day: 19
Grooms_Surname: MURRELL
Grooms_Forenames: Arnold
Grooms_Age: Full Age
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Miller
Grooms_Residence: Flaxley
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Murrell
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Joseph
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Miller
Brides_Surname: REYNOLDS
Brides_Forenames: Winifred
Brides_Age: Full Age
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Flaxley
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Reynolds
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Samuel
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Woodman
Licence_or_Banns: Rites and ceremo
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He signs she marks
Witness_1: James Hale
Witness_2: Harriett Davis
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Richard Lewis
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P145 IN 1/11
Page_Number: 62
Parish_Chapel: Flaxley
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