Real Life Legal Name Changes

[Schiffi]

I was debating on whether to change my Surname sometime after High School. I have read about most of the processes to do so, but my question resides more on a morality issue. I talked this over with my father and he said he would be very dissappointed with me if I did. That kinda turned me off the idea, but the thought still looms in my head. Then there was when I was younger and found out that some families had their names changed when they arrived in America. I have always told myself if I was ever to find out that my family name was changed, I'd change it back to it's original form. Low and behold my intutitions were true, my family name was changed. Though I, at the same time, want to remain close with my family and not for them to shun me. Even though I do love my family very much, I feel that if I continue using my current name I'll be living a lie; on a wim of an young adult (16-18yrs) who thought to fit in he'd need to cover up where he was from. I'd like to get some input and maybe some info from those who have changed their name. Thanks.

Just for curiosity:
Current Name: Shipman
Old Name being considered: Schiffmann (also origins for new username)

It's pointless. The only reason names were CHANGED wasn't because of the "whim" of a 18 year old. It was because, when they came into America, the people at Ellis Island sometimes couldn't understand what the hell the person was saying, and they couldn't necessarily spell english (Immigrants). So they approximated it based on what they said.

I see no reason to change one's name. Living a lie? Then your parents, and your grand parents, and possibly even great-grandparents, were living one as well.

I have alot of pride in my heritage, but a simple name change doesn't somehow make that heritage closer. It's in your blood.

[fragdemon]

The only problem is.... time.

The reason your father is disappointed in you is because you plan on doing it "sometime after High School."

It's like those people moving away to a college to sever their connections. But instead of just seperating yourself through distance. You're changing your identity.

The only real irk I could see anyone have is that you're doing it right away. It would seem like you want to reject your parents. I'm pretty sure it's just the bad aura around that's irking your parents.


My question is though: Why change it at all?

If people have been calling you Schiffmann as a nickname since elementary school, I'd understand. But otherwise, your old name holds your childhood.

Many of my friends call me by my last name instead of by my first name. It's just the way we talk. I have a group of friends, although they refer to me by my first name (it's a very strange first name: Dev) they all refer to eachother by their surnames.

Names are wierd things in that way. If you were changing it for a marriage, I'd see why. But if you're changing it just out of a whim, you're hinting something quite bad to your parents. It would be like me buying a house exactly in the neighborhood my mom wouldn't want me getting a house in.

Or it would be like me not inviting my dad to my wedding.

It just doesn't work out.

[Schiffi]

Thanks for the input. I guess what you're saying is true. At least I'd be saving ~$250 for not getting a name change. Peace.

[Soma]

It isn't that big of a deal. Most last names came from occupation (at least Western European names). As for the change, another reason someone changed their name when they came to America is to be more assimilated. Usally the next generation of a family, the one that grew up in America, tended to want to be American while their elders and parents wanted to keep their heritage. Another reason was just to fit in during the time period.

As for you changing your name, go ahead do it if you want, but you get really nothing out of it.

[Schiffi]

I think I won't do it now. When I told my friends about it they wanted me to, but since I'll be seeing more of my family than those people then I think the inteligent thing would be to stick to my current name. I think it's prolly just a translation error along the way, after all my ancestors were from Northern Germany and that dialect frequently replaces the "f" sound with a "p". If anybody is curious (and by my assumption you are) the top link in my sig links to a text about my first American Generation. Enjoy.

you think that you're living a lie, because of your last name? that sounds awfully dramatic. your name won't determine what kind of person you turn out to be. the only thing that can determine that are the choices that YOU, not your name makes. well, i've said my breif bit.

[Schiffi]

lol, actually I was going for dramatics. "Living a Lie" sounds better than "Schiffmann looks cooler".

[Andromeda]

Well I have contemplated the thought I changing my first name, only out of my unknown love of the name that I hold as the screenname, minus that of the II. Though I think that I would probably prefer to use it as a nickname or something that my friends can call me. And no doubt some will sooner or later will out of the sheer constant usage of the name. For which I'll glad for, but as for changing last names. That is a whole another story, you last name, no matter the changes it has undergone, is your heritage and link to the past. And the transition that it has gone is also your heritage and changing it would only be dening those changes. So I believe that your decision not to change is a sound one.

[Omega]

I dunno, I think living a lie is over the top and a little dramatic as stated by others. I don't think it matters either way of what you decide to do. I mean it is just a name, so nothing about you specifically is changing. My advice is do what you think is right. I personally don't think I would change my name, since it's the name that God gave me through my parents, so I'll just stick with it whether I like it or not.

[Yuki-onna]

Name schmame. Your name says nothing about who you are. Who cares if it sounds funny? What, peer pressure? I'd say only change it if you want to run away from your family and hope they never find you. Then also change your hair color, get plastic surgery, change your sex, and so forth.

Really, you're not living a lie. It's a name. We all have at least a few of 'em. It's a way of human identification. Be proud.

[Toph Bei Fong]

Cobain, you know better. This thread has been dead for almost 3 years. There's no need to revive it.

I'm closing this now.. and if someone actually wants to discuss this and is thinking about the issue, then let me know and I'll open it back up.