Question by R.I.P. Dennis Brogan 63-09: Why did my grandparents change their last name!????
My grandparents came over from Russia in the 50’s, and they changed their last name from Sakharova to Sackett.
Why did they do this???? I really want my Russian last name back. I am 15, and really wish I had this last name as mine so everyone could know my true hereitige, why did they change it? and how can I incoperate it in my name now???
I am all russian by the way, my mom’s last name was Joranova. =D
Also sorry my G-pa’s last name was Sakharov, but because I am a girl mine would be Sakharova. =D
Soorrryyy!
Answers and Views:
Answer by thisisaimster
I suppose you could always have your name legally changed, but you probably have to wait until you are of legal age to do that, since you are in the guardianship of your parents until then. The only other option is to find a guy with that last name and marry him. Personally, I think your odds are better with the first option. Good luck!
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KJ1981 says
A lot of people did that to "Americanize" their names when the immigrated. You can change it back if you want to legaly.
Saved by Grace! says
mabye they wanted it to be pronouncable when they moved from Russia?
autumn says
Probably to Americanize themselves – it was a very comon practice. Also – I hate to tell you , but if you were born in America then you are 100% American w/ Russain ancestors
Verity Watson says
In earlier generations, the desire was to blend in, to become authentically American. And that meant, for many, choosing an American version of their surname.
But you aren't any less authentically Russian because your surname doesn't reflect your heritage. On the contrary, if it fires you up to learn more about your family's history, that's a positive thing.
Remember that your grandparents were probably turning their backs not on their cultures, but on very painful personal experiences. My in-laws left Poland in the 60s. Their lives were a tapestry of war and frustration, fear and uncertainty.
As for whether you'd be Sakharova in the US, not so. Because we don't have the convention of adopting endings for our surnames, women don't get to use the feminine version of a surname unless they legally change it. You would be Sakharov, period. I don't know where your family is from, but I understand from my husband's Polish cousins that the convention is pretty much dead among modern Poles anyway.
If you want to honor your heritage, learn Russian and plan to travel to your family's hometown. If it remains important to you, you could consider a legal name change as an adult. But tread carefully. In some ways, Sackett is the true badge of your family's experience – the decision to restart in a foreign land and to make the best possible decisions for their future families.
After all, your true heritage is that of Russians who have spent two generations in America. It's fabulous to look back and embrace the good in your personal history, but it's equally necessary to understand the path that your parents and grandparents took.
Ask them their stories. My in-laws drive me crazy, but I'm amazed – and in awe – of the path they've taken.
lramirez33135 says
When inmigrants came, sometimes the last name was too difficult to pronounce, or too long, some times it wasn't your choice they would just change it at Ellis Island 🙂
MomMom says
My grandparents had to do the same when they emigrated from northern Europe. The guards at Ellis Island made many people change their names.
I know of one family that had a very Jewish last name and when they came to the US, changed it to "Stanley" so they wouldn't be identified as Jewish – they were worried about backlash that was happening at the time.
lilyankee1029 says
it is probably because sometimes when you move into a dfferent country the name is translated to something a little different but that last name looks somewhat the same, so it probably just got a little changed.
It's fun being says
I'm just giving a guess but maybe there was an unwanted connection with Sakharova or something.
Eg. When my uncle and aunt got married he didn't want to keep his surname because he shared his name with a serial killer (first AND surname) so instead they blended to 2 surnames together!
maccrew6 says
when my grandfather came to the US from Italy he said his name was Nicholl Angelo Daloisio… They said "too long, now you're Nick DeLouis….Maybe it wasn't their choice…maybe they knew they had to adapt their name to get a job etc… Research it a bit.. and use whatever name you want! You can do that here in the US! lol
punkmommy says
When your Grandparents came here everyone wanted to be American. New immigrants did their best to assimilate into the American culture. It's not like now where everyone wants to retain their heritage.