Family tree question, any advice on how I can find the d.o.b of my Grandad, when I only know when and where he died?

[Jeanieology]

My Grandad died in 1945 (he was a fair bit older than my Grandma),and I’d love to be able to find out more about him.
However, I believe that death certificates from that time generally don’t have the date of birth of the deceased on them, so although it’s a long shot, I’m wondering if there’s any way at all I may be able to find out more information about him?

Unfortunately he had a popular name and surname, which would make things more difficult, and my Grandma didn’t tell us much about him other than he was born in 1892, in London, I believe.
As mentioned, the only details I have are his name, date of death and place of death.

I’m stuck at a brick wall not knowing how to find more info on him, and I’d appreciate any advice!

You could try the 1939 census (or 1911). They should give you where he was born. Earlier ones might have him living with other family members which might help.
His marriage certificate would give his father's name. This would help narrow down a birth certificate.

Unfortunately I’ve tried to look through census records, but he wasn’t married to my Gran (I have got his surname though through my Dad) and I don’t think they ever lived together.
As his name was common, he could be any one of a number of people in census records. I just didn’t know if there’s any possible way that I can find out who he was exactly, only by using his death certificate?

I haven’t ordered the actual certificate, but have found the short version online, although judging by things I’ve read, I don’t think his d.o.b would be on the certificate anyway.

Look for their marriage certificate. There will be more details on that that you can use.

They weren’t married, so I’ve only got details of his death.

The 1939 register might help.

Unlike the censuses, which by law are released only after 100 years, this is to some extent in the public domain. The Ancestry website has it in searchable form: I expect findmypast and the various other places have access to it too. Some names have been redacted because the person was still alive in about 2012 - my mum is visible but my dad is under a big black line.

If you have birth dates for your grandmother or for any of her children that would probably help the search.

I've suspended my Ancestry membership so can't help but someone else might be willing to search for you.

What about his children'sbirth certificates and work backwards?
Are you on ancestry?

Oh, crossposted. If they didn't live together that would make triangulation more tricky - but you could still search by name and 1892?

His name and occupation is on my Dad’s birth certificate, but that’s about it my Dad told me.
I’m on Ancestry yes, and I’ve searched and searched to no avail as there’s numerous people with my Grandad’s name who were born in the same year.

Thank you, I’ve tried searching as I’m on Ancestry myself and have my own tree on there, but no one else has searched my Grandad’s name it seems (when I’ve put in info on his death) and he could be one of hundreds of people in the early census records.

Could you look on the census for your dad, if he is listed, it should show other occupants.

Get your parents birth certificate. I think grandparents details are on that

My Dad wasn’t born until 1944 so wouldn’t show, also, according to my Gran she didn’t live with my Grandad.
She never said much about him, as in those days it was frowned up wasn’t it to have children out of wedlock. Although she must’ve thought something of him to have given my Dad and his older brother his surname.

Freebmd will give the area his birth was registered in. You can look up his death on there to get ab idea of his dob to narrow it down. His death certificate will have some details.

Do you have his address and name of the person who reported the death on his death certificate? Those could give you a clue to go back to the census and 1939 register with.

Or depending on the part of the country burial records can be useful, or parish records of deaths.

I will get my Dad to re check his birth certificate (if he can find it!) but he had said previously that he thought there was no date of birth of his Father on there.
Im guessing that my Grandad would’ve had to have been present at the registration of my Dad’s birth, given that he wasn’t married to my Gran?

He died when my Dad was just one year old.

The death certificate will be able to tell you who registered the death, that could be a relative? Or you could try looking for an obituary in old newspapers if you know when and where he died.

On Ancestry, you can add his occupation when you search for him, does that narrow anything down at all?

The 1939 register does not have olace of birth on. It wasn't a census either. You might get lucky if his name, year of birth and occupation is enough to narrow it down. Do you have a likely location and living circumstances? It might be a case of looking at all the results and ruling people out.

You say that you don't "think" that your GF and GM lived together, but you don't know for certain? My starting point would be to find the GM's details on the 1939 register and see who she was living within - you might get a nice surprise! Hint - always view the original, not a transcript, as he may be listed above her but as not married they wouldn't necessarily transcribe them as a couple. I've found FindMyPast easier to search for 1939 entries.

If that doesn't work, find all the potential 1939 entries and try to rule them out - wrong location, wrong occupation, married to somebody else ...

I think I read somewhere that d.o b’s were only added to death certificates in the late fifties I think? … he died in 1945, so I doubt it will show anything, although it’s worth me ordering the certificate I guess as it may contain more info than the online details.

What about an Ancestry DNA test? That might put you in touch with your grandad’s family? I found details about my GG grandparents etc from matches with their siblings.

As you have his occupation and know where your dad was born, could you start with the 1921 census and look for people with that surname and occupation in the area? I feel your pain as I've never been able to find my great grandfather on my dad's side for your very same reason

I would try 1939 census too. I have Findmypast membership and am more than happy to search 1939 for you. PM me if you want to with his DOB, full name and area that you think he was living in 1939 and I'll have a look. I'm just popping out now with DD but can have a look later this afternoon for you. (Have similar issues in my family, my Nan was illegitimate but I managed through doing a DNA test and searching online to find out who her real Dad was last year, 112 years after her birth!)

Doh meant to say ROUGH DOB ....even just a rough idea of the year will help

Do you know how your grandparents met?

If you find your GM on the 1939 register for her address, you might find your GF living nearby? Possibly with some of his family to give other leads?

Also - did your GF fight in either of the WWs? If you know any of the information you might be able to track down a military record.