My ancestor has the name Nielsen added before her last name on one of her children's baptism records. On that same child's confirmation record, her last name is ONLY Nielsen. For her children both before and after him, the name Nielson is not used at all in Denmark. I thought maybe it was a mistake on the Baptism record that was copied to the Confirmation record. But then, the name Nielson pops up again on the same child and his brother's marriage records in the United States (but not on their sister's). The family went to the US together. The children were married within a year of each other and the mother was still alive and living in the same town at the time.
Can anyone think of a reason the name might suddenly be added? The other mystery is that I can't find anyone by the name of Niels or Nielsen that the name might have come from. The only thing I can think of is maybe she misremembered her father's first name (she was an illegitimate birth between her mother's marriages to other men). All other records she is using his last name.
Please more information - what is he's full name and when born and where ?
Greetings
Christian
I guess it was more of a general question of why they might suddenly use a new name and some of the children think it's their maiden name. But here are some records if they would be helpful:
The child's record with Mother's new name added was Anders Christian Mortensen born 1 Sep 1867, baptism 8 Sep 1867 in Halk Sogn, Haderslev. https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/en/billedviser?bsid=450647#450647,80740485
The mother (the person with added name) is Katherine Marie Gørring born 4 Dec 1834, baptized 7 Dec 1834 in Åstrup Sogn, Haderslev. https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/en/billedviser?bsid=455510#455510,81475885
I think her father is probably Hans Andersen Gjørding baptized 29 Sep 1793 Sønder Gørding Sogn (Ribe amt), Ribe https://www.sa.dk/ao-soegesider/en/billedviser?bsid=169958#169958,28534126
I have a lot more church documents for the family saved in Ancestry.
Have you checked names that they got when they were registered in New York on arrival in the United States ?
The children probably had different fathers, and therefore different surnames.
Greetings
Christian