| The following column appeared in The River Reporter on May 14, 1998. |
By Bert S. Feldman
The Recusant Reporter
Thursday, May 14, 1998
Names are subject to Fashion's whims — yesterday's Mary and John are today's Jennifer and Joshua. But if there was a prize to be given for mangling, misspelling and confusing names, particularly last names, that award would go to the staff at the Department of Immigration at Ellis Island, near where the Lady With the Lamp stands beside the golden door.
A truly amazing number of immigrants poured through Ellis Island from about a hundred years ago to the 1920s. Many millions of people seeking to enter the Land of the Second Chance, came to the small island in New York Harbor and were processed somewhat like the way that Ford turns out automobiles.
There was a problem. Any political favor granted in those years, had to come from Tammany Hall if the favor favored New York City. Certain jobs on Ellis Island had to be professionals — doctors, nurses. etc. — But the big need was clerical people, and Tammany supplied them. Not too well educated, many of them, their translations of name were both funny, sad, and created some ethnic slurs which, unfortunately remain with a few of us today.
I am acquainted with a few families that were given new names when they stepped off the gangplank and were herded into the great hall. One family I know, came originally from today's Czechoslovakia. Their family name was Smetena, which means sour cream, and is also the name of the great composer Bedrich Smetena. Theirs was a simple transition; they came in one door as Smetenas, and exited as Smiths.
Another family I know, started out with the Polish name Yackablofski and now are Jacksons. Two other families, also of Polish descent, would love to know who they were before they became Moran and Corrigan. Somehow they don't feel that their Irish names should be entered in their synagogue list of members.
Ethnic epithets of a discriminatory nature also developed among the Ellis Island clerks. The government of Italy was notorious for failing to supply their emigrants with the proper documents they needed to leave their homeland. When Italian immigrants got to Ellis Island without a passport, or whatever papers were needed, they had their luggage marked with chalk, "Without Official Papers." Only this mark was abbreviated — WOP.
Russians, Greeks, Ukrainians and Jews had another problem. Since they were unable to write in Roman alphabetical letters, they were declared to be "illiterate." Thus, when they came to sign whatever papers ere needed, they made an "X." The Jews would not make a sign which looked like a cross. They were allowed to draw a circle, instead. In Yiddish, a small circle is called a "kikel."
My father had both his first and last name shortened. The name "Feldtmann had two letters amputated right away, but his first name was a wonderment. Dad was a runa-way boy, and his first name was that of one of the Twelve Tribes — Naphtali. The clerk was puzzled. "What do they call you at home?" he asked. That Dad knew. "'Tali!" he replied. The clerk smiled. "That's pretty close to 'Teddy," he said. "From now on your name is Theodore, just like our Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt!" And so it was; my Dad, Theodore "Teddy" Feldman, the man who wrote in my autograph album (first page) when I graduated Junior High School "Be a joy to your mother and a pride to your flag."
