My father's birth certificate states his name as john smith (smith being his mothers name) no father on certificate, my father was born in 1912 and his mother did not marry until 1918,I was put up for adoption in 1952,and when aged eighteen I had access to my adoption file, and it stated my fathers name being john jones which was his mothers husband,I was named Jane jones,and my brother and sister also had the same surname,how would my father become richard pope his fathers name,but was registered under the mothers name,thank you to anyone who can shed some light on this problem thank you kind regards jane

First ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area.

Second, in the early parts of the twentieth century records may not have been kept so carefully and changes may have been made more haphazardly. Without documentation of the change, you may never know whether jones is your grandfather or just the man who married your grandmother.

First ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area.

Second, in the early parts of the twentieth century records may not have been kept so carefully and changes may have been made more haphazardly. Without documentation of the change, you may never know whether jones is your grandfather or just the man who married your grandmother.

Thank you Scott for your response to my question,I am based in england,as you say it would be rather difficult to find the answer without any documentation,but thank you anyway,kind regards jane

Unfortunately, adoption "law" was a lot more like guidelines back then.

Sometimes step-parent adoptions happened then, but sometimes children just started using the name of their step-father and it became a legal alias that way.

Are you sure you don't just have an original birth certificate, filed before a step-parent adoption? If you ARE sure that you have the current birth certificate, I would believe that your father was not adopted, but that his name was either legally changed to make life easier for his family or that it simply became a legal alias through common usage with no intent to defraud.

Can anyone tell me please,my father was born {name removed} in 1912 out of wedlock,no father listed on birth certificate,his mother married in 1918 and my father somehow became {name removed} does anyone know the adoption laws from 1913-1925 thanking you kind regards jane ps this question is based in england

Sorry but the first adoption law in England was created in 1926.
English Common Law did not permit adoption BEFORE 1926

Sorry but the first adoption law in England was created in 1926.
English Common Law did not permit adoption BEFORE 1926

Thank you very much for your reply to my post,it certainly answered my question,thank you once again kind regards jane

I am NOT a professional in the area of England adoption laws, but as stated already, prior to 1926 adoptions was not legalized. Instead, arrangements of guardianship and foster parenting did happen.

Information prior to 1926 would have come from voluntary organizations and municipal authorities who may have adoption records. These records were often only kept for a few years and then destroyed.

However, I would not give up because you never know what records might have been stored away to be found later, especially with the widespread interest in genealogy today.

I am NOT a professional in the area of England adoption laws, but as stated already, prior to 1926 adoptions was not legalized. Instead, arrangements of guardianship and foster parenting did happen.

Information prior to 1926 would have come from voluntary organizations and municipal authorities who may have adoption records. These records were often only kept for a few years and then destroyed.

However, I would not give up because you never know what records might have been stored away to be found later, especially with the widespread interest in genealogy today.

Thank you very much for that information,as my fathers mother died in 1925 in childbirth it does sound perfectly feesible that his father became his guardian,so thank you you does give me a little bit of hope,thank you once again kind regards jane

I've merged your two threads. Please don't start multiple threads over the same issue. Also, in your original thread, I made your names generic. It is not a good idea to give too much personal info on the WEB.

Information prior to 1926 would have come from voluntary organizations and municipal authorities who may have adoption records.

No way. Adoption before 1926 could not happen.

I've merged your two threads. Please don't start multiple threads over the same issue. Also, in your original thread, I made your names generic. It is not a good idea to give too much personal info on the WEB.

Answers to my question has been very helpful,thank you to all concerned.kind regards jane

[QUOTE]Title: Struggle for Identity: Issues Underlying the Enactment of the 1926 Adoption of Children Act.
By, Jenny Keating. Until the 1920s, adoption in England was an informal arrangement. Eighteenth and
Nineteenth century novels frequently feature stories of orphans, benefactors and guardians1
But in fact, apart from rare wardship and guardianship proceedings which only the rich could
Afford, the only adopted children with any legal status prior to 1926 were those placed for
Adoption under the 1899 Poor Law Act by the Boards of Guardians. Other children living as
Family with people who were not their parents remained the legal responsibility of their
Natural parents. Only after the First World War did a demand arise for a legal system of
Adoption, fuelled by the growth of independent adoption societies and by continuing concern
About 'baby farming'. This article looks at the campaign in some detail and discusses
Differences in attitude among the protagonists over issues such as secrecy. [Struggle for Identity: Issues Underlying the Enactment of the 1926 Adoption of Children Act]
Jenny Keating[QUOTE]

Whether informal or formal it does appear minor children were placed outside the court in adoptive status. Be it many informal and less with legal adoption status the rich could afford.

If I'm wrong then I will stand corrected. I think the whole point of the submitter question is to determine the father's surname of her father. And therefore, is her father's surname at birth the name of her blood kin or the name of step-relation. Are there only two possibilities or is there yet another name all together. Even if there are no informal or formal adoption records, there very well could be other records and information yet to be found. I think her main interest for seeking this information is for genealogy and family history purposes.

A quote without a source is pretty much useless - and not allowed on AMHD.

Now that you've clarified the question, what "other sources" do you recommend?

A quote without a source is pretty much useless - and not allowed on AMHD.

Now that you've clarified the question, what "other sources" do you recommend?

Thanks for pointing this out, appreciate any reminder in keeping with AMHD guidelines.

Thanks for pointing this out, appreciate any reminder in keeping with AMHD guidelines.


What is the source of the quote? (It's not just AMHD - that is plagerism.)

What is the source of the quote? (It's not just AMHD - that is plagerism.)

If I am not mistaken Jenny Keating is a part of The University of Sussex team.

Actually before 1926 both formal and informal agreements had never allowed adoption in the present sense .
The formal agreements were usually in written, something as,
"I , George V.I- Cantacuzenos agree to take care of John Doe, a minor child aged... / Mother-Jane Doe, father-unknown or John Doe Sr./ until the child reach 14/ 16,18... / , etc.
The adoption did not have the present meaning, it was only a form of wardship or foster care.
By the way England / and somewhat Canada/ is a very adoption unfriendly country. It happens you want to adopt a child but you are ordered to be an unpaid foster parent. There is so called Special Guardianship Order and Residence Order which give you rights but not allow adoption.


It is possible the name change to be done through deed poll.