Name change?

[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

[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."