NOTES ABOUT NAMES.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 23, 22 March 1918, Page 2

NOTES ABOUT NAMES.

Many a man is worrying about his name just now. Perhaps some misguided ancestor bestowed a name like “Grimstein” upon .Jjira, and the- authorities will not allow him to alter it. Yet there is no legal right to a name s at all. You cannot possess your name as you possess your dog or your umbrella. Anybody may take your name, and—during normal times —you may take anybody’s. You can be Brown on Monday if you like, Maeks on Tuesday, and Perkins on Wednesday. Why, then, do people go to solicitors and pay good money to have their names changed ? They do because—if they are honest—they do not want to conceal their true identity. And such honesty may have its reward. Some rich relative may will a fortune to a fellow named Hobbs, for example, and when he dies> how can Cooper claim the money unless he can produce proper documentary evidence to show that he was once the Hobbs in question ? Though names are common property, be sure you always treat them with due respect.