Talk:Merlyn Rees

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[edit] Name Change

Why was it necessary for him to change his name by deed poll? If Merlyn Rees had wanted to be known as Baron Smith when he entered the Lords, he could have just indicated that preference and no deed poll would have been required. Why the deed poll when his name became Merlyn-Rees? JackofOz 20:10, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

I wondered the same thing. Tony Banks became Lord Stratford without, as far as I know, needing to change his name by deed poll. The letters patent should surely dictate the new title. --Whouk (talk) 20:19, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

My wild guess is: the title you're known as (I'm fairly sure of this) has to be approved by some nob in the Ministry of Silly Names. (I'm less sure, but consider it likely that) the nobs at that time would have turned their noses up at someone calling himself Lord Firstname-Surname, so he had to change his surname. Mark¹ 20:29, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

I see that the same applied when George Brown became Lord George-Brown. JackofOz 20:45, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

Peerages have to be approved by Garter King of Arms, and the Garter of the time (quite rightly, in my opinion) thought that "Lord Firstname-Surname" was a silly way to make a title and wouldn't allow it. However, there is a general rule that surnames (except those that are also ranks, like "Duke" or "Marquis") are always permitted (subject to the addition of a territorial bit "before the comma" if the name has been used before, or is also a place name considered too important to allow a mere Baron to have it (hence Lady Scotland of Asthal)). Prospective peers faced with a disapproving Garter can therefore always change their surnames to whatever they want their titles to be, so that Garter is not really in a position to refuse to allow them as peerages. Tony Banks was in an entirely different position, wanting a territorial title, which are always allowed (unless too important), rather than a silly hyphenated invention. (The hyphen is necessary, by the way, because "Lord Merlyn Rees" would be the younger son of a Duke or Marquess with the surname "Rees" — Lloyd George had to have "of Dwyfor" stuck on the end of his Earldom because he didn't want his surname to be hyphenated in it). Proteus (Talk) 21:48, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, Proteus. JackofOz 02:04, 6 January 2006 (UTC)