Linda Eisenstein
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My favorite story about this isn't mine. CPT founder James Levin, my collaborator & a defense attorney, spent 2 decades correcting judges & prosecutors on how to pronounce his family name (Le-VIN) only to discover that a bored Ellis Island clerk had changed it willy-nilly from Abramowicz.
Linda Eisenstein @LindaEisenstein
In case you're wondering why genealogy is so complicated as you survey public records, here is my Grandma Stella's last name as seen over 3 censuses, 3 birth certificates, marriage, & death records:
- Zakarowski
- Zokaranski
- Zakarouski
- Zigmont
- Ziegmont
- Giegmont
- Zeck

Phew.
01:11 PM - Dec 16, 2023
02:21 PM - Dec 16, 2023
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NM Brott
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In response to Linda Eisenstein.
My husband’s family emigrated from what was Russia as Brotsky’s but someone at Ellis Island thought there were too many -sky names and changed to -man.
03:35 PM - Dec 16, 2023
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M Segal
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Unfortunately, many people had their surnames changed without their permission. But then again— my husband’s grandfather picked a different name that he thought sounded more ‘American’ because his cousin already had the name. Also, many misspelled surnames on the immigration lists.
In response to NM Brott.
03:42 PM - Dec 16, 2023
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