surename change

Question

My understanding is that back in the day when people migrated here it was common for them to change their last name.  So if say a family migrated here and split apart and changes their original surname it makes it hard to piece together the family tree. Is there away to find the original name?  Or if some where along the line a indivitual did change their name?

Comments

Most of the surname changes I have encountered were misspellings done by foreigners. The name on the document is the name that follows you to the grave. As to people changing their own surnames, I have no clue. Perhaps to escape the law? Or to fit in with the normal naming conventions of their new home?

Betty

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Back in the day those who migrated had a choice to change their last name for stereotyping reasons. And Those who were Jewish it was common to change the last name. And my Fox family are Jewish that came from Canada originally from germany or israel not sure which and moved to Michigan. But not all of them went to Michigan. But the one who did was big on the fox fur trade industry. I am just wondering if the one who migrated to Michigan changed his last name because apparently he came with 7 other brothers.  But i can't seem to connect the dots

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Angel, welcome to the WikiTree and G2G forum.

You will find the website TheHistoricPresent.wordpress.com covers one facet of the issue: Truth v. Myth: “My family’s name was changed at Ellis Island!

Answer 1

You can look for Passengerlists. Most people came by boat and sometimes there are records stating the original name as well as the new name.

Also some census records show the parent in the original name whereas the children have the new name.

Happened to me a couple of times.