[or-roots] Problems with names

[Nanci Axelton]

ok, I'll join a conversation. I too have the all too difficult task of 
tracing family members who are AKA. Some I think simply had nicknames or 
like me had to distinguish themselves apart from a namesake. Others I'm 
afraid simply had to for reasons they didn't want to share.
My mother changed her name simple because she didn't like the one she had.  
She changed her whole name to just a new first and last. This naturally 
distressed her parents greatly. I was named after her (long before she 
changed her name.) When I just trying to make it on my own, I found our 
duplicate names to be a serious problem.  On paper, we appeared the same. 
She got my mail & I hers, the bank insisted I already had an account and the 
Library said the same, even with the different birthdates. So I changed one 
letter in my name, a y to an i, hence, "Nanci". It solved all my problems.
Now many years later, I have discovered that my mother was named after her 
father's grandmother, who was named after her mother, like me. I am one of 
many Nancy Ann's in my family to bear the name of women who were apparently 
loved enough to be named after. (Are you keeping up?) Only now, my mother is 
no longer Nancy Ann, and sadly, neither am I. Consequently, I agree with my 
grandparents, I wish neither of us had changed our names.
As for the guys who thought they couldn't be tracked with a name change, 
well call me, "Miss Marple", I won't guit searching.

All truth, all in fun,
Nanci Ann

>From: Connie Guardino <census at wi.net>
>Reply-To: or-roots at sosinet.sos.state.or.us
>To: or-roots at sosinet.sos.state.or.us
>Subject: Re: [or-roots] Problems with names
>Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:24:58 -0500
>
>Naming traditions can really be humorous. In Italian society, the oldest
>son should have the middle name of his godfather. In my father's case,
>that would have been Mariano Mariano Guardino! His parents were smart
>enough NOT to give him a middle name.Later on in life, he chose John as
>his middle name, although it was not a legal name change.
>
>Steve & Ronda Howard wrote:
>
> > Hi Cecil and everyone,Was it common to change your name in yesteryear
> > (1850 - 1930)?  Did people carry some kind of identification?  Was it
> > easy to change your name? I'm familiar with the criminal element.  My
> > husband's grandfather Charles Howard (b. KY 1885) was convicted mostly
> > of forgery.  He used the names Edward Barrett, Charles Howard, Charles
> > Edward Howard, James Harris, Robert Howard and Robert Williams. Does
> > anyone else have stories or reasons why people changed their
> > names?Thanks,Ronda
> >
> >      ----- Original Message -----
> >      From: Cecil Houk
> >      Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 9:06 PM
> >       ....  My maternal grandfather, Cecil Clark Rulaford's
> >      father was born Edgar McMullin (or some variation of that
> >      spelling).  He became George A. Rulaford, and married my gr
> >      grandmother, Martha Jane Ford in 1880....Good
> >      hunting,Cecil  Cecil Houk, ET1 USN Ret.
> >      PO Box 530833
> >      San Diego CA 92153
> >      FAX 619-428-6434
> >      mailto:cchouk at cox.net
> >      ANDERSON - BLAKELY - FORD - HOUK - KIMSEY - MOE - RULAFORD -
> >      SIMPSON
> >      Searchable GEDCOM: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/~cchouk
> >      My web page MENU: http://members.cox.net/~cchouk/
> >

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