People approach me at workshops and conferences, and send me e-mail, asking questions about their family identity. "Where does this name come from?" "What national or religious group does this naming pattern indicate?" "How can I learn more about my [substitute surname here] family's nationality? Let me tell you that these are really tough questions for anyone, and many genealogists have had to engage the services of a professional genealogical researcher who specializes in that geographical area, or that ethnic or religious group, to get the answers.

This is particularly interesting when you are researching your ancestors overseas, perhaps in Central and Eastern Europe where political boundaries and governments have changed so frequently as to almost condemn your research to doing a pedigree chart of the governments before you can do one for your family.

Our ancestors fled their native lands for a number of reasons. There are also reasons for which they changed their identity. Sometimes they were "wanted criminals" in their native land. They may have been political agitators merely wanting a different type of life. Perhaps they were members of an unpopular or rebellious religious denomination. A number of our ancestors, on arrival in the United States, may have Anglicized or completely changed their names. Often these folks are really difficult to trace because they did not follow a formal legal process.

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