Should I change it back???

[Drahthaardogs]

My family emigrated from Italy to Jalisco Mexico in the late 1800's to work the silver mines around Mexico City. After a decade, they moved North into the United States. When my great grandfather came through El Paso in the 1920's, he abandoned his Italian surname and took on a very phoney Anglo-Saxon name. This was largely due to a strong anti-Italian sentiment in America as well as the passage of the 1924 anti immigration act. Italians were not considered caucasians. Discrimination, beatings, and lynchings were rampant. As such, my ancient Roman cognome now became a fake-ass Saxon name.

I grew up very "Italian-American". Not only on my dad's side, but on my mom's side too. Our food, language, and customs were very different. I never realised it until I moved out of my community and into the larger world just how "cultural" my upbringing had been.

Regardless, as I have gotten older, and learned to appreciate my culture that is both American and Italian, I have kind of become ashamed of my phoney name. It seems like a rejection of who I am, who my ancestors were, and what the bigots did to us 85 years ago.

I am curious what DUers think. I am thinking of changing my name back. Is this more trouble than it is worth? Anyone else ever done something like this?

[PumpkinAle]

1. Follow your heart on this

and may you be happy in whatever your decision is.

[HeiressofBickworth]

2. I changed my name when I got divorced; I returned to my birth name.

The process (here in Washington) was fairly simple; I didn't even need an attorney for it (I'm a paralegal, anyway). Once you go through the court procedure, you will then have the task of notifying the IRS (new social security card) or other taxing authority to which you report (like property taxes, for example), every credit card, landlord, and anyone you have other business dealings with, including your return address labels. You may or may not have to produce a certified copy of the court document, depends on the requirements of the person asking for proof of your legal name.

As far as whether or not you should change your name, that is a very personal decision. Here in WA, the law only requires that you are not changing your name to avoid creditors or law enforcement. So if you would prefer a different form of your family name, there is no reason against it. It's your choice. You would need to check with your local county court to see what the requirements are for a name change.

[No Vested Interest]

3. How much difference will it really make in your life?

It really is a personal decision, but, if you're inclined to change your surname, give a little thought to other aspects.
For example, will your father or other family members think it is a rejection of them in some way.

On the other hand, women routinely change their surnames, perhaps into one from another culture.
I loved my Irish surname, but changed it to my spouse's name, which is not as melodic as my original name.

"What's in a name?"

[Jenoch]

4. Unless the original surname or the changed surname will

identify your family speciffically, would you please tell us what they are?

Personally, my family's surname on my father's side is so close to my family that if I do a google search I know every one of them and they are 2nd cousins or higher.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

5. Tough call,

but Giuseppe Yankeedoodlewashington is a tad spurious.

[hunter]

6. Try the name on, see how you like it. If it fits, make it official.

In my own family breaking out of a given name is common. I'm not sure where it comes from. Is it a Wild West or Hollywood thing? I don't know. Two of my siblings made efforts to become professional actors and have minor screen credits like "biker two" and then carried the names further into their non-acting careers.

The worst that happens is random incidents of paperwork confusion and maybe frustration for any of your descendants interested in genealogy after you are gone.

Fortunately or unfortunately the police and credit reporting agencies are very will equipped to deal with name changes.

[Avalux]

7. Follow how you feel about it. If it will make you happy, do it.

Your answer is in your own words:

I have kind of become ashamed of my phoney name. It seems like a rejection of who I am, who my ancestors were, and what the bigots did to us 85 years ago.

[Paulie]

8. I took my spouse's surname when we married

Well, shortly after we were married I changed it via court order to hers. My surname that I grew up with was very italian, but I'm not at all. It just happened to be the surname my mother had at the time from a late husband. My fathers surname wasn't his either as he was adopted. So now I have a nice relatively short polish ethnic name and no one says "Oh, you're Italian!" and I replied at the time "No, Prussian (we don't exist anymore)."

So if you want to, go for it. I was pondering going back to my mothers maiden name, but all of their names were changed from an ethnic sounding one to a more generic one like you're talking about back in the 1940's. Spouse's name is just as ethnic and similarly misprouncable/unpronouncable so I went with hers.

Makes for fun genealogy.