Confusing inlaw? .....

skaville · Post by **skaville** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:22 pm

I have the 1841 census of a relative and im a bit confused. My Walter Alexander had a mother called Margaret Mcdonald. Now she is on this census under that name living with her son Walter. Surely she should be under the name of Alexander? Her husband was also Walter but i presume he has passed away by this time. They are in Holytown on a road what looks like Chapelhall.
Cheers for any conclusion to this.
Mark

Post by **AndrewP** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:34 pm

Hi Mark,

In law, when a couple marry in Scotland, the woman retains her maiden surname. Alright the done thing is that she uses her husband's surname.

It can be seen in the older censuses that the wife in the household is occasionally listed under her maiden surname. More commonly this is seen when she is widowed.

This is also commonly observed on gravestones where a woman is almost lways referred to using her maiden surname, then wife of ...

Chapelhall will almost certainly be the village of that name in the Holytown area.

All the best,

AndrewP

skaville · Post by **skaville** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:48 pm

Thanks for the reply. Thats cleared that up quickly enough!!
Cheers,
Mark