[or-roots] Problems with names

[Steve & Ronda Howard]

Thank you Nanci and everyone for your replies on changing names.  It sure
makes it hard to research when the name is not sure!
Ronda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nanci Axelton" <naxelton at hotmail.com>
To: <or-roots at sosinet.sos.state.or.us>
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 1:12 PM
Subject: Re: [or-roots] Problems with names


> 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/
> > >
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> MSN Toolbar provides one-click access to Hotmail from any Web page - FREE
> download! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200413ave/direct/01/
>
> _______________________________________________
> or-roots mailing list
> or-roots at sosinet.sos.state.or.us
> http://sosinet.sos.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/or-roots