Hello, I'd better start by saying that I am transcribing these cases EXACTLY as shown on the scans, but I am rather curious about them and would like to hear from others :-) I'm transcribing Births, Dec 1844, and noticed that there have been quite a few with an unusual, or even unlikely, middle name. It's quite common for children to be christened with mother's maiden name, but these are repetitions of their current surname, so out of idle curiosity (taking a break from transcribing) I checked back to see if they were from particular (sub)Districts. My theory being that the original record is as presented on a copy Birth Certificate (but we transcribe only relevant extracts copied from them) and the Registrar might have entered the child's full name in the name column. However, every one was different. The females are:- Sarah Ferrar FERRAR, Stamford Phillis Chapple CHAPPLE, Leighton Buzd Alice Chandler CHANDLER, Chelsea Eliza Chamberlin CHAMBERLIN, Norwich Jane _avoy Bond BOND, Wellington The males are:- Arthur Chawner CHAWNER, Uttoxeter John Boscough BOSCOUGH, Preston George Booth BOOTH, Manchester Thomas Bolton BOLTON, Chorlton I suppose a case could be made for daughters carrying the family name on after marriage, but what about sons? These sound very improbable and I wonder if anyone else has come across similar entries, or has actually known anyone with such a name. Cheers, Colin Cruddace