deed poll

American  

[pohl] / poʊl /

noun

Law.

deeds poll plural

1. a deed signed and executed only by the grantor.

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deed poll British  

noun

1. law a deed made by one party only, esp one by which a person changes his name

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• deeds poll
  plural

Etymology

Origin of deed poll

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

deed poll

An inquest into Mr Lawrence's death, which opened at Wakefield Coroner's Court on Monday, was told the suspect was born Owen Lawrence Eames, before changing his name by deed poll.

From BBC ● May 12, 2025

The costs range from £42 for an enrolled deed poll, where the applicant's new name is added to public records, or £15 for an unenrolled deed poll, which only requires two witnesses.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2023

Anyone who has visited Fratton Park over the last 30-odd years is likely to have seen and heard John Anthony Portsmouth Football Club Westwood, who changed his name by deed poll in 1989.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 13, 2019

Kaiser changed it by deed poll years ago, borrowing inspiration from Keyser Söze, the character in the film The Usual Suspects who has a double life.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 28, 2018

I'd have to change my name by deed poll, but Dad’d never let me.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell