When people came to the U.S. from Europe, Asia and the Middle East in the mid-20th century, they faced a question that would define them: Should they keep their foreign-sounding surnames or change them to blend into their new community?
Some opted for change: Schmidts switched to Smiths. Carusos became Carrs. A Rosenberg rebranded as a Ross, while a Papadopoulos pivoted to Pappas — or a more English-sounding Pope. But until recently, researchers lacked a clear understanding of how often people changed their last names on arrival.
