524
The Green Bag
that the law places no obstacle in the
souri passed numerous acts changing
way of any one wishing to change his
the names of both adults and children.
name, provided such a change does not interfere in some way with the rights of
and declared minors to be of full age, to enable them to make contracts. The
others, and that, while the change may
last change of name made by the Mis
be made informally, under the common
souri General Assembly was that of
law, a statutory process is desirable for
Augusta Shilling to_ Augusta Vmter, February 15, 1864. She was also de clared to be the lawful heir of Charles
the sake of supplying an authentic record. According to_ the data which he gives,
there are six ways in which the names of persons have been changed. The first change of name on record took
place by divine command, when the name of Jacob was changed to Israel. “Thou shalt not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name. And he called him Israel." (Genesis,
xxxv, 10.) The second method, and possibly the most common, is under the common law.
and Mary Winter at their request."
The method of changing names by decree of court is considered by Judge Withrow to be the most satisfactory. It is very little trouble, and leaves a
record that will effectually prevent dis putes as to identity. “What would be sufficient to warrant the ordering of a change would depend very much upon the grounds alleged in the application and the facts of each par ticular case.
In this connection, Judge Withrow says
“Inasmuch as prior to the passage of
that as far back as historical records go, people have changed their names when
this act a common law change of name was valid in this state, and the statute
they they have seen fit. Many illus trious men have done this for various causes; among them Napoleon I., who
does not provide that a change not made
wished to hide from the French his
method.
Italian origin, and altered the name Buonaparte to Bonaparte. The ances
the most desirable, because it is speed)’:
tors of the Duke of Wellington were not Wellesleys, but Colleys. The baptismal name of Gen. Grant was Hiram Ulysses. He changed it after he entered West Point to Ulysses Simpson Grant. In like manner Grover Cleveland was origi nally Stephen G. Cleveland. Honoré de Balzac was born a Guez, which means beggar, and he grew to manhood under that name. The practice common among actresses of adopting a pseudonym to conceal their family names is well known.
The method of changing names by
in conformity therewith shall be void, 3 change may still be made by either “The statutory method is no doubt far definite and a matter of permanent rec ord, and can easily be proved even after the death of all contemporaneous wit nesses. For instance, take the case of a man who had acquired the title to real estate under the commonplace name of
Adam Swineflesh. Having become tired of that appellation, either because he has suddenly struck oil or otherwise pros pered beyond his expectations and does
not deem his name sufficiently dignified or euphonious, or because he has unfor
In this con
tunately been required to serve a term in some penal institution, he concludes to make a change without invoking the
“Prior to’ 1864 the Legislature of Mis
distinguished cognomen of Madero Diaz.
legislative enactment is one of the safest, but slightly cumbersome. nection the judge said: —
aid of the court, and assumes the more
