Thread: Need Advice/Help with immigrant name changes

armychick2001

Hey everyone I just have a quick question. I have not come accross this yet but though i should ask so that if i do i have an idea on what to do... My question is say you get back pretty far and are now in search of your ancestors that came over from other countries.. See mine came from Bohemia so my question is that when some ppl came over they prolly changed their last name to not look so Germanish.. But not only that it is possible that they could have changed their first names too? has anyone come accross this if so how do you continue your search from there?

Kate

I have found it to be the case with a lot of my German Ancestors that came to Australia. Henri or Heinrich became Henry. Andreas became Andrew. Johann became John. Some are pretty obvious like Josef and Joseph, Friedrich became Frederick. One of my GG Grandfathers was Freidrich Stecher and his name became Frederick Stacker. I am sure there are many other examples but these are just the ones that came to mind. Most of mine came out prior to 1860 so WWI had no bearing on the name changes. In many cases it was a case of the person transcribing the name for a birth etc. Anglicized the name. Also the way the Germans gave their christian names can be quite confusing. Often all sons were named for the same saint for their first name and were usually known by their second name. Another GG Grandfather who came from Bavaria was Max Christoff Martin Lenz, apparently he was always called Martin. Freidrich Stecher had sons Johann John and Johann Freidrich and Johann Henry. They were commonly known as John, Freidrick and Henry.

Victoria

Hi,
Many immigrants over the centuries have Anglised both their first and surnames, some officially by being naturalised, others by custom and practice, and because it was easier to integrate. That happens even today. I have a Russian born friend with an unspellable surname and the family is known now by the surname Majis, the nearest English pronunciation.

In the 19th century censuses you often find " foreign or naturalised subject" or similar, next to such people's place of birth. Sometimes whole areas, particularly in big cities, had large foreign populations, often connected by their occupations. It depends on what period you are talking about as to where you continue your search.
Regards
Victoria

mand82

i have the same trouble my dads dad side of the family came from russia and had to change their surname as it sounded too german they came over here in during 1917-ish i think and had the surname gildenbunt but changed it to the nearest english word smith,

armychick2001

Wow... Thanks everyone I do appreciate it. I figured if it got changed first name or last it should be very similar..