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And just to confuse things - there is nee - the surname give when born!! :-S
Sappho

Thank you so much all. Your answers have helped A LOT.

many thanks ALison

Formerly is maiden name........'late' refers to a previous married name

If the woman had been married before, there should be two former names on the birth cert

If it just says 'formerley - I believe this is the birth name.

If it says late xxxxx, formerley xxxxx - I believe it means that the 'late is the first married name and the 'formerly' is the birth name

Dea Xxx

Formery should mean maiden name....for example Mary Brown, formerly Smith would mean her maiden name was Smith and married name Brown.

However if she had been married previously it would usually say Mary Brown, formerly Smith, late Jones. In this case her first married name was Jones.

Kath. x

Nearly all the birth certificates I've sent for have.... formerly for the mother's name to indicate her maiden name.

One Sussex Registrar always used the word 'late' instead, which can also be confusing.

Gwyn

Unfortunately it doesn't always follow....my fathers birth certificate states formerly Holt....and that was her maiden name.

Regards Vera

Alison I've seen birth certificates where it has said formerly and it really is the maiden name. In fact, this link explains it:
http://www.dixons.clara.co.uk/Certificates/births.htm#COL5

Hi all

Would you all agree with my thinking that "formerly" against the mothers name on a birth certificate, would indicate it was NOT her maiden name, but a previous married name?

Thanks for your input

Alison