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Glite Dictionary
deed poll

deed poll

1 8.2
A document one person signs to officially change their name
  • noun
  • /diːd pəʊl/
  • UK
: cambio de nombre
  • So she officially changed her name via deed poll to regain access to her account.

So she officially changed her name via deed poll to regain access to her account.

Examples

  • After completing the paperwork, he received his deed poll, confirming his official name change.

  • A potential name change by deed poll would be suggested.

    Blog text (12)

  • When I sent in a name change request and a copy of my deed poll, I thought there we go, job done.

    Blog text (3)

  • The guy on the phone looked at the letter, looked at the deed poll, and simply didn't get it.

    Blog text (3)

  • She changed her name legally by deed poll to reflect her new identity.

  • To update her driver's license, she submitted her deed poll to the relevant authorities.

Surface Forms

deed poll singular
deed polls plural

Morphology

deed + poll

Although 'deed' signals a document, the element 'poll' is archaic/specialized and not transparently connected to the notion of changing a name; a B1 learner who knows common senses of 'deed' and 'poll' (e.g. vote) would not predict the legal sense. The term is a fixed legal phrase whose specific function (a document to effect a name change) is lexicalized and culture-specific, so its meaning cannot be reliably derived from the constituents.

Etymology

Deed poll comes from old legal papers. Long ago, when people made two copies of a document they cut the top in a jagged way so the two edges would match, but a deed with a straight edge was called a poll and meant the paper was for a single person. That's why a deed poll today is the legal paper one person signs 'to change their name'.