Re: How do you go from Andrews to Anderson?
in reply to a message by Emezli
Maybe the census taker wrote "And(scribble)" which was later read as Anderson and the family just went with it? Or was she saying the family specifically decided to change it to Anderson?
Replies
the family specifically decided to randomly change it to Anderson
What ethnicities are in the family? Andrews and Anderson are both listed as English surnames for "son of Andrew" but they could have chosen Anderson because it's closer to Andersen or Anderssen if they have any Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish connections?
we’re black americans
They might have wanted to separate themselves from their old surname since a lot of Black people, after being emancipated, took on the names of their former 'owners.' That's my only guess, anyway.
that’s possible