Question:- Does the fathers name have to be on a child's birth certificate?
Reason:- My father never knew the name of his father and I would like to know if there is a way of finding out - he was born in 1916
Going only on your question, have you in fact seen your fathers birth certificate?
If you wish to PM me his name I can do some checks for you.
In answer to your first Question:
1) Where the parents were married to one another, fathers details must be entered in the register and only one parent will sign the register (or some other informant).
2)This situation lasted until the Registration Act of 1875 where the instruction read "The putative father of an illegitimate child cannot be required as father to give information respecting the birth. The name, surname and occupation of the putative father of an illegitimate child must not be entered except at the joint request of the father and mother; in which case both the father and mother must sign the entry as informants".
Let me know if you want me to check his details?