Hey everyone!

I recently started to do a Family Tree and I barely began when I already ran in to a problem.

I ordered my Grandfather's birth certificate (who is now deceased) and I received a call from the records department and they said there was a problem with it. ALL of the information that I gave was correct EXCEPT for the name.

I asked if it was a slight difference or if it was dramatic because there are at least 6 different spellings for the name. She said FIRST AND LAST name are VERY different.

She wouldn't tell me the name over the phone but she is still sending me the document.

Why would it have been different? Wouldn't there be a record of a name change or whatnot?

Needless to say, it's caused a bit of ruckus already! LOL!

Thanks!

Please believe me years ago a lot of things were just done, including adoptions, someone's niece needed a place to stay, they just moved her in.

Best I can tell my great grandfather just changed the spelling of our last name when his son was born, His birth certiicate has a different spelling of the last name than his dad. Guess they did things like that.

And add to it back before 1930 a lot of births were at home and birth certifcates were not done as they are today.

It is possible he just started using a new name, similar maybe, for some reason.