Were christian name changes common.  I have been researching Squire Naylor(b. 1847) who married Sarah Maria Brooker (b 1843) in 1870 at the parish of St Mary in Sheffield.  
The marriage certificate shows his father as James Naylor, but up until that time all my research has indicated his father's name was Samuel Naylor (b.abt 1816)

Samuel married Mary Illingworth Squire's mother (b.1813)
Samuel's occupation is shown as a Clogger which fits, but the name doesn't. Does anyone have a suggestion? This is all new to me.  

Hi Cutter.

Did you obtain the marriage certificate from the GRO or the local register office.

The local register office has the original and the GRO have a copy...and this is were the discrepancy may have occurred, when the clerk at the register office was copying the details across. In effect you are getting a transcription from the GRO.

St Mary's marriage registers are deposited with Sheffield archives...you need to check the original.

I have come across at least 3 certificates where the father's name was incorrect on the certificate obtained from the GRO.

Angela

Thanks Angela, the certificate is indeed a copy.  How do I access the original documents.  I am relatively new to all of this, and have few relatives left in the UK who can provide me any infomation.

Thanks again
JIm

Are you able to visit Sheffield archives....?

St Mary's original registers are deposited there.

Angela

Unfortunately, not at this time.   I live outside of Vancouver Canada. Perhaps I will be able to hook up with relative as m y research progresses.
Thanks again

What is his father's occupation on the marriage certificate...?

I have found two burials for a Squire Naylor.

Oct 1861 Squire Naylor aged 15 at Heckmondwike, this will be the Dewsbury registration district

27 Dec 1863 Squire Naylor aged 25 at Drighlington St Paul, this will be the Bradford registration district.

This looks like his family in 1861.
NAYLOR, Samuel Head Married M 51 1810 Stone Mason  Bradford
NAYLOR, Mary Wife Married F 47 1814 Bradford
NAYLOR, George Son Unmarried M 18 1843 Masons Labourer Leeds
NAYLOR, John Son Unmarried M 16 1845 Masons Labourer Bradford
NAYLOR, Squire Son  M 14 1847 Masons Labourer Bradford
NAYLOR, Sarah A Daughter  F 5 1856 Scholar Walford
Heach Houses, Murton, Murton County:
Northumberland

Thanks Angela,

I am afraid that is the same Squire that I followed.  The Marriage certificate copy  I have shows that both Squire and his father James were Cloggersin 1870.
This seems correct, in that the 1871-1901 censuses all show Squire as either a Clogger or Clog sole maker.
Correction to my original it appears tha Squire was 23 in 1870 (b. 1847) and Sarah Maria was 27 (b.1843)

Best Regards
JIm    

Quoted Text Samuel married Mary Illingworth Squire's mother (b.1813) Samuel's occupation is shown as a Clogger which fits, but the name doesn't. Does anyone have a suggestion? This is all new to me.

If Samuel married Mary ILLINGWORTH then in 1851 Samuel is a Stone-Mason.

Farfield Pitsmoor.
Samuel Naylor 38 Stone Mason
Mary Naylor 36
Abraham Naylor 14
Elizabeth Naylor 13
Samuel Naylor 10
George Naylor 8
John Naylor 5
Squire Naylor 4
Ann Illingworth 70 Mother
Samuel Bagshaw 36
Dorothy Bagshaw 40


Angela

Hi Cutter
Would you perhaps be a descendant of William Jennings Naylor? If so, we may be able to work through this together. If not, I have info on the rest of the family. By the way, I am in Australia.

Quoted from cutter Were christian name changes common.  I have been researching Squire Naylor(b. 1847) who married Sarah Maria Brooker (b 1843) in 1870 at the parish of St Mary in Sheffield.   The marriage certificate shows his father as James Naylor, but up until that time all my research has indicated his father's name was Samuel Naylor (b.abt 1816) Samuel married Mary Illingworth Squire's mother (b.1813) Samuel's occupation is shown as a Clogger which fits, but the name doesn't. Does anyone have a suggestion? This is all new to me.

Hi Cutter,
            my grandmothers christian name changes from Ellen to Helen and then Hilda on census forms. My grandfather varies from Henry  to Harry on different documents. His surname changes also to that of his step grandfather who brought him up. Along with spelling mistakes in transcriptions it can make things difficult. Good luck.  Phil.

A couple of things struck me whilst reading this.  I have been researching my own family history and found a few inconsistencies.  Nick names were very common and sometimes used without thought on official documents.  For instance I had an uncle Jack who was always known as this and would sign himself Jack, but we found out his real name was Arthur.  All his brothers had nick names too.  Also my great grandma was known as Polly but her real name was Mary Ann.  When giving someone a diminutive name it was often common place to substitute L and R, eg Mary - molly - polly.  Dorothea - dolly.  It was commonplace for the names Jack and John to be interchangeable too.

I have also found instances where census records where incorrectly transcribed eg Doris transcribed as Dom.  

So inconsistencies are possible.