Change of name records

We have official records of individuals who changed their name in Ontario, mostly between 1939 and 1986.

Handwritten register of names indicating individuals who elected to change their name with the courts.
Print or save

About change of name records

Throughout history and for various reasons, some people have wished to be called something other than the name they were given at birth.

Before 1939, people in Ontario could simply start using a different name for private and legal purposes so long as it wasn’t to break the law or evade creditors. If they wanted to make it official, they could file for a “change of name deed poll” from their county or district court that stated in writing their intention to use a new name, but this wasn’t mandatory.

After 1939, people in Ontario were required to submit a formal change of name request to the courts if they planned to use it for official purposes (e.g., signing documents with a bank or on government forms). These changes were filed with the Office of the Registrar General.

Records before 1939

The only change of name records we have before 1939 are change of name deed polls filed with courthouses.

These were voluntary written statements filed with Ontario district courthouses that declared a person’s intention to use a new name. Our holdings of these are limited and probably do not reflect the true extent of the number of people who filed statements.

Courts mostly destroyed their own copies of the deed polls – the original was usually given to the individual who changed their name – but some courthouses “swore in” change of name deed polls to the Supreme Court of Ontario for York County, Toronto.

How to research deed polls

Researching a deed poll for someone is a two-step process.

    1. Find and take note of the docket number, date of submission and individual’s previous name by searching the Supreme Court Central Office Matter Index volumes. These are available for the years 1850-1946 on microfilm in our Reading Room on reel MS 4006. Each volume lists entries first by previous name, then by date of submission. Not all entries are deed polls.
    2. Request to view in person or order a reproduction of the docket (court’s recording of the deed poll) by providing the following information:
      • reference code RG 22-5081
      • individual’s previous and new name
      • docket number
      • year found in the index

Records between 1939 and 1986

After 1939, people in Ontario were required to make formal change of name requests before a judge at their local County or District court. If approved, judges prepared a court order confirming the change of name. Copies of orders were sent to the Office of the Registrar General.

Change of name filings usually include the following information:

  • new name
  • reasons for change
  • current address
  • birthdate
  • birthplace
  • occupation
  • names of parents, including maiden name, and names of spouse’s parents if married
  • proof of British or Canadian citizenship or naturalization
  • whether the applicant had ever been convicted of an offence and if so, what

Change of name court files, 1939-1986

We hold change of name court filings up to 1986 for most Ontario counties and districts. Files contain the person’s application, court order that legally changed the person’s name, supporting documents.

To request a file to view in person or order a reproduction, you need to provide the:

  • file number
  • courthouse where the change of name order was filed
  • year of filing

If you don’t know the file number, you’ll need to research the County and District Court Matter Indexes to find it.

  1. Consult the full list of County and District Indexes in Collection Search. Search the list for the County or District court series (RG 22-xxxx) you want to consult. Make sure the series includes the key terms “matters” and “index.”
  2. Request to view the index by citing the reference code, any box number(s) or location information and the year(s) you are looking for.
  3. Look through the index to find the file number, year of filing and courthouse.

Note: we have many, but not all, County or District court matter indexes up to 1986. If you cannot find the index you’re looking for in our Collection Search, you need to contact the courthouse directly and request that they provide you with the file number.

Office of the Registrar General change of name orders, 1939-1973

We hold the Office of the Registrar General’s Change of name orders (RG 80-1) for 1939 to 1973. These listings were prepared from court orders received from County and District courts. They include most of the same information found in the original court files, except for correspondence between the applicant and courthouse.

Access to these records is governed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). To request a file from before 1973, submit a Freedom of Information request with the Archives Freedom of Information and Privacy unit.

Records after 1986

Change of name records after 1986 are still held by the Office of the Registrar General.

Contact the Registrar General to request a change of name file.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for or want to conduct further research, you can try researching related records.

Birth, marriage and death registrations

The Province of Ontario has registered the births, marriages and deaths of residents since 1869.

Other records of vital events

These include records of births, marriages and deaths kept by religious congregations as well as some court records and cemetery records.

Get research help

We can point you to resources to help you with your research Contact us.

For professional research help, we have a list of private companies and freelance researchers who can do research on your behalf.