Why Your Family Name Was Not Changed at Ellis Island (and One That Was)

Why Your Family Name Was Not Changed at Ellis Island (and One That Was).

Here’s a question I ask in EVERY class I conduct:  How many people here had their family’s name changed at Ellis Island.  Without exaggeration, nearly 75% of the hands go up in the air!

I do my best to describe pretty much exactly what you’ll find in the article, but there’s always at least one person who insists otherwise!

Well, at least I tried.

The real lesson they need to learn is SPEELING DOESN’T COUNT!!

Was your family’s name changed at Ellis Island???

Thanks to Judy G. Russell, “The Legal Genealogist“, for posting this on Facebook and giving me yet another subject to post here!!

English: Immigrants entering the United States through Ellis Island, the main immigrant entry facility of the United States from 1892 to 1954. Español: Inmigrantes entran a los Estados Unidos a traves de la Isla Ellis, el mayor lugar de entrada a los Estados Unidos entre 1892 y 1954. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ellis Island as seen from the Circle Line Ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island. Photo taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, NY, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Is Ellis Island Haunted?
• Ellis Island’s Servers were Destroyed by Hurricane Sandy
• New Blog Launched to Tell the Stories of Ellis Island Immigrants
• No, Family Names Were Not Changed at Ellis Island
• The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation

Learn or Refine Your Genealogy and Family Research Techniques

We're starting a new year at the Chicopee Public Library.  In addition to the "Research Clinics" we run every Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM, I will conduct a variety of classes on the "art" of genealogy and family research.

The upcoming series will be 2 sessions on Monday evenings February 3rd and again on February 10th.

We'll be talking about what to look for, what to expect, what is "free" and what is not, web sites (and there are HUNDREDS!) and how to use them, research strategies, tips and tricks to find what you're looking for and, most importantly "IT'S NOT ALL ON THE INTERNET"!!  Where to find those documents you need that are not available just by clicking through sites such as Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org.  Even how to use Google to "Google your ancestors"!  And a crash course in DNA.

Alternately, another genealogist, Alan Doyle Horbal of Adams, MA, will conduct classes as well in a clinic format.

These classes are designed for beginners to intermediary researchers and have been very well received by all who have attended in the past.

If you're nearby and would like to attend, call the Reference Department at (413) 594-1800 ext 108.

See you there!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1590"] English: Image of Chicopee Public Library (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

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Why Your Family Name Was Not Changed at Ellis Island (and One That Was)

Why Your Family Name Was Not Changed at Ellis Island (and One That Was).

Here's a question I ask in EVERY class I conduct:  How many people here had their family's name changed at Ellis Island.  Without exaggeration, nearly 75% of the hands go up in the air!

I do my best to describe pretty much exactly what you'll find in the article, but there's always at least one person who insists otherwise!

Well, at least I tried.

The real lesson they need to learn is SPELLING DOESN'T COUNT!!

Was your family's name changed at Ellis Island???

Thanks to Judy G. Russell, "The Legal Genealogist," for posting this on Facebook and giving me yet another subject to post!!

English: Immigrants entering the United States through Ellis Island, the main immigrant entry facility of the United States from 1892 to 1954. Español: Inmigrantes entran a los Estados Unidos a traves de la Isla Ellis, el mayor lugar de entrada a los Estados Unidos entre 1892 y 1954. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ellis Island as seen from the Circle Line Ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island. Photo taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, NY, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Is Ellis Island Haunted?


• Ellis Island's Servers were Destroyed by Hurricane Sandy


• New Blog Launched to Tell the Stories of Ellis Island Immigrants


• No, Family Names Were Not Changed at Ellis Island


• The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation