<<snipped>> I have many early Birth Certificates - they all give the mother's maiden name. <<snipped>> Agreed - they always give it. In fact, without looking it up, I don't think there's been any change in the _content_ of certificates in England & Wales until late in the 20th century when death certificates (at least) changed slightly. I think? Don't get confused with the contents of the _indices_ which only show mother's maiden name in later years for the GRO version and in varying fashions for the local registrars' indices. Adrian