Family name changes in the second half of the 20th century
Abstract
Family name changes in the second half of the 20th century
This paper is concerned with the official instances of family name changes in the last half of the century, a field of interest inaccessible to scientific research so far. The author discusses the most important characteristics and tendencies of the changes carried out during this period on the basis of the analysis of 2000 petitions. The study presents the official procedure of changing a name as well as the process in which the instances of changing names get rid of historical and political incentives giving way to practicality and to motivations coming from private life. Apart from dealing with the proportion of foreign and Hungarian names and describing the attitude to the natural stock of surnames, the author examines the most characteristic types of new names assumed (e.g. double family names). The study casts light on the main characteristics of social groups involved (e.g. gypsies recently). Moreover, the changes in the social background of changing family names are also treated.
