Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Name change" in English language version.
It is also possible for a person to change their name without complying with the Name Act. The change may be an offence under the Name Act, but that does not render the change ineffective. At "common-law a person could adopt any name in the community, provided that this was not done with any intention to defraud others. One's legal name was the name one was known by, determined merely as a question of common usage within the community". (C.E.D. Western [3rd Edition] Volume 34, pp. 147-47).
A person may have more than one name, or may be known by more than one name, or may change their name without going through a formal process which results in a record of that change. … The Name Act does not appear to require any formal registration of such an election or use.
In addition, there does not appear to be anything which invalidates a change of name by common-law even though that change might be an offence under the Name Act. …
— Lazarchuk (Re), 1994 CanLII 1214 at 10-11 (18 April 1994), Supreme Court (British Columbia, Canada)
