Name change?

[Nick]

I considered changing my name a while back, though for a completely different reason. I ended up not. I didn't want to alienate one whole side of my family, though they were part of the problem to begin with. I doubt you'll have that problem, but you may want to consider how the rest of the family feels.

When my mom's ancestors came through Ellis Island, their name was changed slightly. Not a lot, it was Italian, but it had some vowels axed. My dad's came down through French Canada, but the name was slightly altered anyway. Now I'm stuck with a French last name nobody can pronounce (except for a French-Canadian teacher I had once.)

[auld argonian]

Having family on my dad's side that came from Poland back in the late 1800's, I'm used to seeing names shortened/anglicised...lots of "Novaks" who started life as Nowicki's and Nowacyzki's. One of our favorite friendly jibes upon hearing someone give his name has always been, "...yeah?...what was it before you changed it?" Indeed, my family often just gives the name "Grant" instead of "Gronkowski" when making restaurant reservations just because we are tired of being asked if "...we can spell that...?"..."yes, I can spell it...can you? Just take your best shot at it." It's pretty simple when you stop and think about it.

Just remember that great old Conception Corporation sketch about immigrants arriving at Ellis Island...part of the joke is that they were on "The Immigrants...Chapter 37" and had run out of legitimate ethnic groups to profile so they're down to "The Hillbillies"...

"Okay, Hillbilly...what's yer name?"

"Michelangelo Buonorrati."

"Michelangelo Buonorrati? That's no name for an American! From now on your name is Mike Boone."

The Scottish side of my family is the Latta's and a few of my relatives have done a lot of research into the family and there are more variations on the spelling of the name than you can shake a stick at...ask for a Latte in France and you get one of my relatives.

I do like the tattoo idea, though...

Best

AA

[Ruanaidh]

My name is basically pronounced the same in both the Irish and anglicized spellings. But the Irish makes a great user name.

[Streetcar]

Tough one.
Consider that while changing your name might honor deceased ancestors, how will it affect your living relatives? Are they less deserving of the honor because they have a "bastardized" name?

I considered a name...adjustment...at one point in my life as well. I thought it would give me a stronger tie to my past. But then I realized that the name wouldn't mean a damn thing to the stranger who didn't know my family history.
Then I thought of it from my parents point of view. Although I thought they would be understanding if I explained my reasons, I was also concerned that their friends might think I was having some sort of rebellion against them, and thereby put them into an akward situation.

In the end I decided that my name unchanged reflects who I am - including the tribulations of those that came before under different spellings.

Whichever name you decide on, you will still be you. Just make sure you let us know WHAT your decision is, so we can toast you in the right name!

[ccga3359]

BP, Perhaps then just add it as a middle name.

[Mike1]

I belong to some controversial groups that deal with politics overseas. I guess what I am trying to get at is that I want to honor the trials and tribulations my ancestors have been though.

I can very definitely relate to what you are saying. I have some of those same types of connections to organizations in Scotland. I cannot comment further as it would violate the forum policy on political discussion. Suffice it to say there have been times I have had to remind myself of the political issues evolving right here in the U.S., because I was so focused on what was happening in Scotland.

I see my own involvement with some of these groups as how I honor those that came before me. I know what my forebears went through, here in this "new world" and I also know why they had to come here and go through it.
But the name on my passport and driver's license has nothing to do with the pride for my heritage burning inside me. It's what I am able to do for Scotland's cause that is important, not the name I am known by.

Think of all the effort and dollars the name change would require and devote those resources to what is truly important in your life. THAT is what will help make a difference and honor your forebears.

Thig ar latha!

[gilmore]

It would go from English "Long" back to the Irish "Ó Longaigh".

It would be a big change. I was wondering if I could get your opinions or thoughts on the subject? Thanks.

It depends on how invested you are in spending the rest of your life explaining to reservations clerks, maitre d's, bored semi-literate form-filling government clerical workers, etc. the difference between an accent grave and an accent acute, exactly which letter in your name it should go over and why, why there is no apostrophe in it, and which letters are not pronounced. It will be something that you will encounter almost daily, often several times a day.

My surname is unusual but similar to one that is common. Those of us who were born with it have gotten used to having to exert some effort in getting it spelled correctly, in judging almost immediately whether it is worth the effort, and we all have our various methods.

Interesting, the women who marry into our family and take the name are initially quite irked at having to go through all of this, but most adjust. Some don't, even after using it for 60+ years.

Another thing to remember is that the correct spelling of any words is a rather recent development, dating back only to the coming of dictionaries in the early 19th century. Before then everyone spelled words they way they sounded to them with few rules.

(I have a document---a deed of land of one of my ancestors---from the 1750's with the signature spelled the way we do now, spelled differently by the clerk who wrote, and spelled a 3rd way by the person who indexed it. Who was correct? All of them, and none of them. It wasn't an issue.)

Look on the bright side. Things could be worse. You could be of English descent and named Chumly.

[McClef]

If you had a real welsh name it would consist of 38 letters only 3 of which vowels.

How droll!

But it is not only real, it's the original version - "Trefor" is Welsh for "homestead" and there is a village in North Wales near Caernarfon named after me!

Trevor is simply the bastardised English spelling!

Look on the bright side. Things could be worse. You could be of English descent and named Chumly.

Which is of course spelt Cholmondleigh just as Fanshaw is spelt Featherstonehaugh.

And people think that Welsh spelling is strange!

[GMan]

Do what you feel most comfortable with, just remember that it will be a life long commitment, and that your own family (present and future) may not be as understanding.

[slohairt]

Dia Dhuit, A Ghréagóra!

As someone with a very Irish name (my great-grandfather reverted it back in the '20s upon joining Conradh na Gaeilge) who emigrated to North America, I can tell you firsthand that you will encounter innumerable difficulties with people pronouncing and spelling your "new" name. America (and Canada partly) is an English-speaking nation, and the Irish weren't the only immigrants to alter the spelling of their names. Most were already Anglicised long before they reached this continent.

In Ireland, of course, you won't have a problem with pronunciation but many will still spell it incorrectly. With many Irish people, the reversion to the original Gaeilge spelling is a politically-motivated gesture and is especially viewed so in Northern Ireland.

Sadly, most people worldwide are unaware that the Irish even have a native language besides "top o' the mornin' to ye!" When they see an Irish name and/or Irish word spelled in the Irish language they can't understand why it looks so "foreign" Most people don't often realise my name is Irish when they look at it!