The name Three Surnames was developed from

• The three official languages of Belgium being Dutch French and German and the use of Latin, French or Dutch through the historical Belgian record.

• The inspirational story of my Great Grandfather William Richard Cox

In the small English town of his birth in 1887, William Richard Cory embarked on an inspirational journey shaped by the fluidity of his identity. Born with an unknown father, he was bestowed his mother’s surname, Cory. As a teenager, the twists of fate led him to a new surname, Cock, in the 1901 English census after his mother remarried.

Undeterred by the challenges that life threw at him, William enlisted in the Army by the time of the 1911 English census. However, his full name became a source of bullying, prompting him to make a bold decision. Fueled by a desire for self-determination and resilience, William, along with his siblings, altered the spelling of their surname to Cox.

This transformation not only represented a defiance against adversity but also symbolized William’s determination to shape his own narrative. His inspirational story of embracing change and overcoming hardships serves as a testament to the power of self-discovery and the courage to rewrite one’s own destiny. William Richard Cory, with his three surnames, became a beacon of strength, reminding us that our names and identities are not mere labels but stories waiting to be retold to the coming generations.

This particular story of William’s use of three surnames and many others set in motion a passion for family stories and social history.