Name change?

[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!

[Riverkilt]

A tough one for sure. Pretty much your call after all the input.

My life changed radically when the clown on the flying hamburger was invented by the golden arches people. Often thought of changing my name to avoid the teasing and repeat stupid jokes.

But, bottom line, my blood is Macdonald so I keep the name. Guess using that logic you should revert to your ancestral spelling. But, I'm not sure I would were I in your situation. A personal call.

The Welsh comments reminded me of a joke I first heard as a Hopi joke, but it would fit equally well for the Welsh...hope its within bounds...

What does a Welshman have that is long and hard that he gives to his bride on their wedding day?

His last name....

Ron

[David in Maryland]

My life changed radically when the clown on the flying hamburger was invented by the golden arches people. Often thought of changing my name to avoid the teasing and repeat stupid jokes.

I am the MacLeod Clan commissioner for Maryland. I have people asking us all the time, "Are you really immortal?", i.e. the Highlander movies. I usually respond, "In a way, yes."

[thescot]

Long, Lang, or O'Finklestein doesn't change who you are or what you are. I don't say that lightly, nor do I make fun of your ideas. That comes from a guy whose own name has been bastardized along the way such that I can't even find my great-grandfather's census records. Instead of Long, try K-i-l-l-m-a-n. That's right, two L's as in "hitman." Ha. I am, in fact, quite a mongrel.

I would, with all due respect, advise you to be who you are. Believe me, we all have persecution, unfortunate events, etc. in our family histories. We also have a few low lifes, criminals, and general stinkers to boot. In the long run you have to look in the mirror and see who is there, and the spelling of you name won't change any of that. What's important is the integrity you live by.

But no matter what you decide, you'll still be Beloitpiper here, and we'll still like you just the same.

[macwilkin]

For years now, almost everyone I know -- parish priests, teachers, friends, etc. -- has at some point slipped up and called me "Scott" -- I don't know why, perhaps a subliminal reference to my Scottish heritage -- but there are times I have threatened to change my Christian name to "Scott" just to make it official!

With my surname, it's a little different. Here in the Ozarks, "Wilkinson" automatically becomes "Wilkerson" for many people. Unlike "Scott", the mispronounciation of my surname is one of my biggest pet peeves. I used to tell folks "WilkINson -- like the swords", but most Americans are not aware of the Wilkinson Sword (save military officers), so I would sometimes say "Wilkinson razor blades" -- sadly, Wilkinson Sword closed its doors in 2005, and I haven't seen a Wilkinson razor blade in years.

Cheers,

Todd

[Cawdorian]

Surname changes were quite common back in the 1400's and 1500's, in some cases surnames were none existent. These various name changes are part of our family history and heritage.

If you were to search the Kirk (church) records in Scotland, you would find many cases of the same individual listed with different surnames at different events in their life. An example would be an individual shown as Hugh Lamont at his birth, Hugh McPatrick at his marriage and Hugh Patrick at his death. The names are all septs of Clan Lamont, but are recorded differently at the different recorded events in their life. This was quite common in those days and tends to support the theory that surnames were not permanent in those days.

[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

[Colin]

I like this idea. I like it a lot.

I was already thinking of a tatoo that says "American Born, Celtic Always" but I may add my old name to it....

Just bear in mind that I had spent a couple hours under the tattooist's needle yesterday before I wrote that. I was still engulfed in new tattoo pride.

[Wompet]

i guess I'm the exception that proves the rule - my father's family name hasn't changed in seven hundred years or so. Well, there was the one branch in the late 1700/early 1800s that dropped the second "T," but their kids put it right back. And when people hear it, they think of a harbor in upstate New York or a fictional family created by Louis L'Amour.

I would go with Colin's suggestion. It will honor your ancestors while sidestepping the mess legally changing your name, then chaning your driver's license, voter's registration, selective service registration, passport, credit cards, bank accounts, any service accounts (telephone, cell, internet, cable, utilities, etc). I had a couple of friends get married early last year, and they're still getting sorted out with the computer systems at work.

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.

Occasionally, when a member of the public gets upset with us at work:
"I'm going to complain to your supervisor! What's your name?!"
"Kwiatsekaski."
"How do you spell that?"
"Oh, it's the common spelling."