In the US, at least at the time I was adopted, the probate court order
finalizing the adoption allows for the change of name. Back in that time
supposedly (and this was a State by State issue) the original birth
information was sealed. What no one seems to have noticed is that the
probate court order that changes the name of the child lists both the
original name and the new name. duh.
Kathleen
Thanks, Kathleen. This query refers to one of my aunts in the 1911 Census
for England, who was supposedly adopted at the time.
Pete Cavill