BELARUS-L Archives

Archiver > BELARUS > 2006-02 > 1138920073


From: Joan Parker <> (by way of "J. Asche" <>)
Subject: Re: [BELARUS] Name changes
Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2006 17:41:13 -0500


PLB is absolutely right. Surnames were not changed at Ellis Island
for the reasons stated. Most often the immigrant changed it later for
whatever reason, usually to sound more American. If the name had
been changed before he applied for papers, the original name is on
the papers either AKA or Previously Known As. Remember too, that
some circumstances caused people to travel under someone else's papers/name

Many times the children's first names were Americanized in school.
ex: Moishe became Murray, Herschel became Harry, Rifke became
Rebecca, Ruckele (sp?) became Rachel.

There is a fascinating book that tells the immigrant's stories in
their own words. Island of Hope, Island of Tears : The Story of Those
Who Entered the New World through Ellis Island-In Their Own Words by
David M. Brownstone, Irene M. Franck, and Douglass Brownstone. This
book covers many ethnic groups not only Belarus but Greeks, Italians,
Germans, etc.

Joanie
----- Original Message ----- From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 10:17 AM
Subject: [BELARUS] Name changes


It amazes me that people still perpetuate the falsehood that names were
"changed" at Ellis Island. Passengers were listed on the ship's
manifest ( as
they were technically cargo) and the manifest was prepared in the COUNTRY OF
ORIGIN for the ship. It is attested to and signed by the captain
and given to
the authorities before any passenger disembarks. In checking for spellings
or possible names changes, you must take into consideration
what language was
spoken in the port of the country of origin of the ship and
what exactly were
the immediate circumstances that caused the immigrant to leave his home.
There are many reasons names were changed, but they weren't changed at Ellis
Island.

Family stories are nice but most often they are not the truth.


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