Spelling your name in a different language

[J Tyran]

Can anyone help me with this? I know the UK laws about name changing but I have a more specific issue, I was thinking of changing my surname to reflect my heritage. My surname is an English name for an object, I want to change it to use the Welsh spelling.

Technically my name wouldn't change and in the UK Welsh stands legally on an equal footing with English, I cannot get any advice on this though. Some research suggests I can just use it as the word is the same and nothing has really changed, other research suggests that by law I can just use whatever name I want as I have no illegal motive. Research also suggests I may need to get evidence of the change of name like a deed poll or statutory declaration.

I am really stuck with this one.

 

[MetalDooley]

Ok I'm not too familiar with UK law but surely if Welsh is a legally recognised official language of the UK and you are of Welsh descent then you should be able to use the Welsh spelling of your surname without needing to legally change your name or anything like that.My surname is in English on my Birth Cert and other official documents but I am allowed to use the Irish spelling if I want to.I would assume it's a similar situation with you

 

[J Tyran]

Its awkward, Welsh is officially recognised as a language. You can use it in court, the government, government agencies and any civil process also have to recognise it. If I sent a form to say the DVLA and filled it in with Welsh they have to accept it, the problem is I cannot find anything specific about substituting a spelling of a surname.

English law about changing names is fairly simple, its almost impossible to get your birth certificate changed but you can call yourself whatever you want at any time. Its only a problem if you are doing it for criminal purposes like fraud, for official ID or paperwork like a passport you need to have either a deed poll or a statutory declaration done via solicitor. This is basically a public way of saying "my name was xxx now its xxx", I just want to know if I need to bother as my name isn't technically changing I am just using my legally recognised native language.

 

[Albino Boo]

Your legal identity is with the English spelling of the name. There is nothing to stop you calling yourself Oleg Biscuitbarrel but anything that requires proof of identity you would have to use the name that is on your birth certificate. So bank accounts, driving licence and passports would have to use the birth certificate name unless you change it by deed poll. Its nothing to with Welsh, the same applies to John Smith and John Smyth.