This book describes, in question and answer format, the great migration of immigrants to new yorks ellis island, from the 1880s to 1914. Pt 11 if your name was changed at ellis island final 081211. The wall of honor will come with 1 free certificate, if you would like to order additional you may do that now or at a later time. Ellis island 1892 1924 22 million immigrants came through closed in 1954. Once you got to ellis island your name was changed to make your name sound less foreign and more americanized. Look up birth and marriage records for your immigrant ancestor in their country of origin, and compare them to the way their name is spelled on their ellis island intake form, as well as on the ship manifest of the ship that brought them to the united states. But even though many may have had unusual namesat least to an english speakerit is a persistent myth that ellis island inspectors altered birth names of the weary immigrants. Ellen levine is the author of many acclaimed books, both fiction and nonfiction.
Archive, save as and place it in a folder on your computer and or choose to print it directly from you webbrowser and after that fill in the document by hand. This is a guest post written by myheritage blog editor and contributor schelly talalay dardashti, myheritages us genealogy advisor. Even if someone was always known by the americanized name once he stepped foot on ellis island, he will probably be listed in the ship. Lets follow a hypothetical early 1900s immigrant and the general history and custody of his or her good name on their way to and through ellis island. Ellis island has an online searchable database of 22. Why your family name was not changed at ellis island and one that was. Voices from ellis island des moines performing arts.
The thought that some of my family members may have made it across the atlantic, but not across ny harbor is moving, and the knowledge that many people did not make it, either too ill to survive or sent back to where they came from is a hard story. In new york harbor the statue of liberty turns her back on ellis island, a gesture at once. However, there is little truth in these name change stories. Being 3rd generation born in the us our families immigration stories are not known. Read suttons full essay for more on the ellis island records, american name changes, and one very unusual case of an identity revealed at ellis island. Teachingbooks if your name was changed at ellis island.
It didnt help that vito corleone the godfather, part 2 had his name changed at ellis island when he arrived. Do you have an ancestor who came to the united states after 1892. Did ellis island officials really change the names of immigrants. Books similar to if your name was changed at ellis island. World are recorded in the millions of names listed on ship manifests now in. They changed our name at ellis island ancestral findings. Between 1892 and 1954, more than 12 million people entered the united states at ellis island, a small island off the new jersey coast.
Search the ellis island database at ancestor search. Quotes from children and adults who passed through the station are featured. Print a read and math workbook with changing your name on ellis island reading comprehension. Ellis island has had many names and many functions. What dangers, other than sickness and shipwrecks did the immigrants face. Alexander hamilton, for example, was born on the island of st. Changing your name on ellis island reading comprehension. If you are saying they were changed when they got off the boat and not directly at ellis island i can give you a bit there but to say noone had their names changed at ellis island. Find books like if your name was changed at ellis island from the worlds largest community of readers. The idea that an entire familys name was changed by one clerk, especially one at ellis island, is seldom supported by historical research and analysis. Also, its highly unlikely that the name was changed by ellis island officials.
The ellis island station operated from 1892 through 1954 including three years spent in temporary facilities on manhattan due to an 1897 fire. There are pictures to help children learn about the various different things that immigrants went through at ellis island. The only time names ever really changed at ellis island is if the immigrant decided to change their name to fit in with american society or the local community to which they were moving. Each books inviting questionandanswer format and lively fullcolor illustrations make this truly living history. Most of these socalled ellis island name changes probably happened in the first months and years after arriving in ellis island, as the new immigrants assimilated to american life.
The ship manifest lists at the ellis island database were compiled in the country of the immigrant, not at ellis island. Features quotes from children and adults who passed through the station. This is an assessment to go along with the book if your name was changed at ellis island by ellen levine. Why your family name was not changed at ellis island and one that was by philip sutton, milstein division of u. If you traveled west in a covered wagon, if your name was changed at ellis island, i hate english. If your name was changed at ellis island, by ellen levine. If your name was changed at ellis island is written in the form of informative questions about ellis island. By dara horn, on the jewish tradition of changing names and inventing roots. This statement is so common it is just about as american as apple pie. Did ellis island officials really change the names of. Today there are millions of descendants of immigrants to the us who firmly believe this myth and, despite the best and. No, much of the day was spent standing lines on ellis island, waiting to get checked. The assessment is a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and open response type questions.
If your name was changed at ellis island lesson plan. Ellis island isnt to blame for your familys name change. Although your ancestors may have chosen to change their name for employment or assimilation reasons, ellis island employed hundreds of translators and, most of the time, passenger lists and identification documents were created in the emigrants home country. Reviews of the if your name was changed at ellis island so far with regards to the ebook weve if your name was changed at ellis island responses end users havent yet eventually left the article on the overall game, or otherwise not see clearly however. The flood of immigrants through new yorks ellis island is chronicled in a series of questions children ask about the immigrant experience in the u. Placement test for the series launcher for if you series based on if your name was changed at ellis island by ellen levine. The if you series provides a childfriendly way for beginning readers to learn about significant eras in our past, while still being a lot of fun. Why your family name was not changed at ellis island and. Ellis island good documents for your genealogy search. And that even some tour guides at ellis island perpetuate this myth. If your name was changed at ellis island by ellen levine. It was estimated that a total of six seconds was spent on each immigrant inspected on the. See our list of all the digitized records that are available on our partners websites.
If your name was changed at ellis islandcomprehension. And all you have to do to change your name is start using it on legal documents. While immigrants surnames often changed as they adjusted to the new country and culture, they were very rarely changed upon their arrival at ellis island. Trademarks and trade names are shown in this book strictly for illustrative and. Split your class up into groups of five to practice a readers theater script that relates to immigration and ellis island.
Were many immigrants names changed at ellis island. If your name was changed at ellis island by levine, ellen. If your name was changed at ellis island by ellen levine is one book in a series from scholastic that is set in important times and places in history. Dispelling the myth of ellis island name changes our familys surname was changed at ellis island. This series is a goto source for history made comprehensive, comprehensible, and entertaining. Ellis island isnt to blame for your familys name change a longstanding myth obscures the truth behind the americanization of some european names european immigrants arrive in america. American name change stories tend to be apocryphal, that is, they were developed later to explain events shrouded in the mist of time. Transcribers copied passenger names as they appeared on original ships lists. This book tells you what it was like if when ellis island was opened in 1892 as a. Census records are the easiest way to find out if you have a potential ellis island ancestor.
This book tells you what it was like if when ellis island was opened in 1892 as a center for immigrants coming to live in america. The 1940 census is the most recent census that has been released to the public. The myth of ellis island and other tales of origin. This book tells you what it was like when ellis island was opened in 1892 as a center for immigrants coming to live in america. If your name was changed at ellis island by ellen levine and wayne parmenter. The script includes information about the island, and some descriptions of vocabulary terms. On the 125th anniversary of the famous portal to the u. If you have always been told that your familys surname was changed at ellis island, it is crucial as a genealogist to look further into the story. Simply click the add to your ellis island file box that appears on each results page. Sometimes, they changed their name before even getting on the ship to come to america. The book is structured as a series of questions and answers that a student would typically have.
For a number of reasons its possible your ancestors name is recorded incorrectly in the ellis island immigration records. Moving beyond the page purchase if your name was changed. During the height of the immigration wave of the early 1900s, inspectors interviewed as many as 500 people a day, a process that could take up to seven hours. A concise explanation of the my name was changed at ellis island myth. There was no requirement to immigrants to use their real last name when. Describes, in questionandanswer format, the great migration of immigrants to new yorks ellis island, from the 1880s to 1914. Ellis island, some good documents that can help you in your research for your relatives. No, your familys name was not changed at ellis island. In this childrens book, the topic covered is ellis island. Located in the ellis island national museum of immigration, the american family.
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