Re: 1837online changes its name

Probably because they are putting so much more stuff online now that
they felt the concept of it just being the GRO Indexes, which is what the
original name of 1837online referred to, had been overtaken.

I think they are wrong because 1837online is so much more meaningful
and different, while findmypast.com sounds like half a dozen other
websites.

Charani...

I think it'll be quite a while before it stops being referred to as
1837online. All the "good" names have already been taken.

The FRC is still referred to as St Catherine's and even Somerset
House!

octiger...

In the Excel file where I record my various logins, I have them down in
April 2003 as "Family Research Link (1837online)", so this seems to be a
second name change.

Charani...

The original one was certainly a mouthful. So long as they don't keep
changing their name and totally confusing everyone. Our ancestors are
quite capable of doing that without any assistance :))

Just like some of our more elusive ancestors :-)

Charani...

Isn't it ever! :))

Lesley Robertson...

Yes. It rather reminds me of the Post Office. Having built up a solid brand
name with associated goodwill, they spent all that money changing name and
logo, with the result that they fell flat on their collective faces as
everone said "Who???".
Lesley Robertson

Graham P Davis...

At least the Post Office - or at least the new boss - soon realised their
mistake and dropped the new name. Anyone know, or care, what Norwich Union
Insurance changed their name to? All I know is I get confused between it
and a brewery chain who went through the same process.

Charles Ellson...

NU didn't change their name, it was CGNU (the result of a 2000 merger
between NU and CGU, the latter itself the result of a 1998 merger
between Commercial Union and General Accident) which changed its name
to Aviva in 2002. The "Norwich Union" branding remains in use in the
UK (as does another of their company ancestral brandings, "Commercial
Union" in Poland). With CGNU it was probably more a case of changing
from a long and clumsy name (or an abbreviation which didn't really
look sensible) resulting from a number of mergers unlike the PO/Royal
Mail/Consignia which was popularly seen as just another example of
someone being taken for a ride by the image consultants.