Many explanations. Oftentimes it was a matter of
choice. If the father acknowledged the child and
wished it to have his name, that was usually granted.
But, most times, as in the case of one of my g+grandmothers,
(bastardy bond of 1807) the child retained the name of
the mother. This is currently the case also, exampled by the daughter/
grandaughter of a friend of mine.  Generally, the surname of
the illegitimate child was the decision made by the Mother,
or in some rare cases, the courts.  I don't know that an
"official" change occurred.
Charlie


On 5/14/2011 1:20 PM, Carole D. Bryant wrote:
> In the early 1800s, what seems to have been the policy or practice of
> naming an illegitimate child?  Would he or she take his natural father's
> surname or that of his mother? If this policy or practice reversed at  some point
> in time, approximately when did the change occur?
>
> Thanks for the help !
>      Carole
>
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