Hi all A recent study I did  revealed an interesting twist associated with the surname of an illegitimate child. Circa 1940 the papers of a deceased  elderly spinster were being dealt with. As far as her niece was concerned she had always been known as  Elsie May Crowther - the same surname that her parents were known by. However amongst her papers was a passport in the name of Elsie May Crowther Morrison - no one could say where the Morrison name came from. However it was not too difficult to work out and is perhaps best understood by starting from the birth of a child in 1856: 1856: Birth of William Crowther Morrison registered (Freebmd) and followed by a baptism record "William son of Mary Morrison, spinster" (Ancestry, Baptism register) 1858: Mary Morrison marries Joseph Crowther ( Ancestry, Marriage Register) 1861 census: Family of Joseph and Mary Crowther includes William Crowther, son. (Ancestry) 1871 census: Family of Joseph and Mary Crowther includes William C M Crowther, son. (Ancestry) 1881 census: Family of Joseph and Mary Crowther includes W C Morrison, son (Ancestry)   May 1881: William Crowther Morrison (father not named) marries Emily Crossland ( Ancestry, Marriage Register) July 1882: Arthur, son of William Crowther and Emily, Morrison baptised (Ancestry, Baptism register) 1891 census: William and Emily Crowther have three sons in their family.(Ancestry) 1901 census:  William and Emily Crowther and family, inc son Arthur (Ancestry) Sept 1909: Arthur Crowther Morrison, father William Crowther Morrison, marries Thebais Saville ( Ancestry, Marriage Register) 1911 census: Arthur and Thebais Crowther are together. Sept qtr 1911:Birth of Elsie M C. Morrison, mothers maiden name: Saville registered (Freebmd) Mar qtr 1924: the death of William C Morrison is registered but the following probate was in the name of William Crowther. So in this case the illigitamate child, apparently given his fathers surname as a middle name, was given his mothers surname. However, both he and succeeding generations appear to drop the childs birth surname except on selected official occasions. Regards Roger Family History Research: GILL, BERRY, CHARLESWORTH, ROBINSON and many others in the Holme Valley, south of Huddersfield. http://rogergill.me.uk