Re: Help!!!
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In reply to:
Help!!!
Barbara Nelson 10/07/09
Hi Barbara....
Numerous reasons for name alterations....Inability to spell, accents, acclamating to the "New Country", altering to get a job to provide for your family, "Americanizing" the name by translating to what it means...such as Croix = Cross : )
My ex-husbands is from Italy and the family name is Ricci [pronounced Reechee] some of his relatives are now Rich.
Growing up my neighbors had cousins Bevilaqua and DrinkWater....they came here as Bevilaqua from Italy and some "Americanized" to Drinkwater.
Pierre LeBlanc in Canada may become Peter White.
Mahoney in USA and in Ireland it was O'Mahony.My Great grandmother was Katherine Connery in Ireland and Kate Conroy in Boston.....
My neighbor's father arrived from Poland and altered his name to get employment, once he was established he returned to the original name....[thank heavens I am not doing that research].
Basically anything is possible....but be cautious with these switches
Try this to help:
http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/
Elaine
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Re: Help!!!
Barbara Nelson 10/08/09