What's in a Name?

When my maternal grandparents came to the US at the turn of the century, my grandfather went to register, and told my grandmother we were named Katz (Ketz with the accent).

 

She was angry because Zvares was their last name not Katz.

 

He told her Katz was the man in front of him, and it’s easier to spell than Zvares.

 

She made him go back and change the name to Zvares.

(My grandparents and me, 1950)