Late birth registration - reason?

[snoozeyoulosecruise]

Evening,

Doing a spot of research on freebmd and came across an uncle born in 1950 but his birth wasn't registered until 1960 (there's a cross reference in the register).

What could the reason for this be? Was there no legislation to say babies must be registered back then?

He may have been re-registered in 1960 if his parents married after his birth, or to add a father if his Dad wasn't in the original. Civil registration started in 1837 but it didn't become mandatory to register a birth until the 1870s, well before your relative was born.

It could be that his birth was registered in 1950 but then reregistered in 1960. You’d need to apply for the certificate to be able to tell. What does the cross reference indicate?

The cross reference indicates a late entry so the typed entry is in the 1960 register which references the 1950s register where there's a hand written entry. Hope that's makes sense!

His parents got married in the year he was born (but after his birth) I've now found.

Have you checked for a birth under mmn? I was registered under 3 surnames then re-registered 16 years later so will confuse family historians that don't buy certs.

And also those that don't buy certs assume that my dad is the father of his first wife's child. They do get a surprise!

Sorry what is mmn?

i presume mothers maiden name, mmn.

As has been suggested, try searching for his birth under his mother’s maiden name. If his parents married after his birth it’s likely his birth has been re-registered to reflect this.

Thanks, I've just checked and no registration under her maiden name either. I've ordered the certificate so hopefully that will shed some light!