What does this mean?

[James18]

I've noticed that sometimes the (apparent) same birth will be registered more than once, but perhaps a year apart.

For example: here (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=wnR3802&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Thomas%20Victor&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Clark&gsln_x=0&msbdy=1993&cpxt=1&cp=11&MSAV=1&uidh=yke&pcat=34&h=4083394&recoff=3%204%205&db=ONSBirth84&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1) & here (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=wnR3802&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Thomas%20Victor&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Clark&gsln_x=0&msbdy=1993&cpxt=1&cp=11&MSAV=1&uidh=yke&pcat=34&h=4083395&recoff=3%204%205&db=ONSBirth84&indiv=1&ml_rpos=3)

Also: here (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=wnR3803&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsln=Bragg&gsln_x=0&msmns=Macmullen&msmns_x=1&cpxt=1&cp=11&MSAV=1&uidh=yke&pcat=34&h=17822790&recoff=5%2023&db=ONSBirth84&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1) & here (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=wnR3803&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsln=Bragg&gsln_x=0&msmns=Macmullen&msmns_x=1&cpxt=1&cp=11&MSAV=1&uidh=yke&pcat=34&h=19926093&recoff=5%2023&db=ONSBirth84&indiv=1&ml_rpos=3)

These are surely the same people and it's not a case of they died and their names were re-used for a later birth, so I am curious why there are apparent re-registrations of the same birth a year or two down the line. I've seen two or three instances of this now, and wondered what the explanation could be.

Is it some sort of transcription error that has been wrongly indexed? In theory, what would happen if I ordered both sets of birth certificates? Surely only the first (chronological) record can be correct.

Any ideas?

[JBee]

Usually for adding or removing father's name on certificate. Husbands are automatically deemed to be the father unless told otherwise. Likewise if non husband father can't be there at the registration then the column is left blank so if the parents go onto marry or the father makes a statutory declaration that he is the father then that column changes on re-registration.

[James18]

Thanks a lot, Julie. That makes a lot of sense.

So, is that the same as a 'late entry' on FreeBMD? For example, I found someone who was registered under his mother's maiden name in 1937, and then re-registered under another name (presumably his father's) in 1954. I checked both entries on FreeBMD and they are linked as a late entry. I suspect that this had something to do with that person getting married in 1954, but I'm not sure.

[Phoenix]

I get the feeling that the demand for a birth certificate in the "correct" surname arises when the young person first needs one - eg for a job, to get their National Insurance number. It may only be then that they discover that they can't find the certificate because they are looking under the wrong name.

[JBee]

I know someone who was brought up by his grandparents and adopted their surname throughout his life. Now due to banks often requiring ID ie birth certificate, passport etc he was stumped.

[kiterunner]

If the parents are not married to each other when the birth is originally registered and they later get married to each other, they have to re-register the child's birth.

[Shona]

Agree with Kate.

[James18]

Thanks to all.