> Could someone one be christened with the > father's surname when their parents weren't > married yet? > Please, this is my dilemma. Absolutely.  It was a time when one's "word" was accepted and no proof of marriage had to be given.  After all, the prevailing belief was:  Who would lie to a clergyman?  And the Church would rather baptise an infant than leave him or her unbaptised. It was also not unheard of for parents to change the baby's name after baptism, either to curry favor with a family member or any other reason.  I have a few of those in my grandmother's generation. I changed my own name at age 18, just before going into college.  It was remarkably easy and quite legal.     Lou