> >>on 3/13/2006 8:03 PM Tim Campbell said the following:

> >>>>>Leah Koester

> >>>>Speaking of name changes, anyone here have any ideas on how to
research
> >>>>a relative who supposedly changed their name on arrival to the US from
> >>>>Finland circa 1912?

> >>>http://www.ellisisland.org/

> >>I have looked here before and not had any luck....partially because I am
> >>not sure of the original name.  Maybe I am not accessing the information
> >>the right way.  Any tips would sure be appreciated.

> >>--

> >>KL

> > If your ancestor became a citizen, then get the citizenship petition
records
> > from the appropriate court. If your ancestor did not become a citizen
and
> > lived until 1940, then file a Freedom of Information Act request to get
the
> > 1940 Alien Registration Act form. Both forms list the date your ancestor
> > arrived, the arrival port, the ship name and place and date of birth.
The
> > name used to enter the USA may also be listed. If Ellis Island is the
point
> > of entry, then use the ship arrival information and person's age to find
> > your ancestor in the Ellis Islands records using the Stephen Morse
searches
> > at www.jewishgen.org/databases/EIDB/ellis.html .  If more than one
person
> > fits the critera, then use other manifest information (such as final
> > destination and destination relative/friend name) to get the right
person.
> > Be aware that family and first names may be horribly mangled or even
> > reversed in the Ellis Island database.

> Actually, this time I made a real good hit at the Ellis Island database.
>     But apparently the last name was recorded as Bjorni.  And it appears
> that the family came over in two parts.  The father who we know as
> Sylvester is recorded as Scrafia Bjorni, who was 25 in 1910 traveled on
> the same boat as Eusio Bjorni who was 11 months old (male).  Then in
> 1911, Aina Bjorni, age 20, appears to have travelled with Toini Bjorni
> who was 2 yrs old at the time.  This does seem to fit well with what
> little I know of the family.  The really interesting part is this name
> Scrafia...how does that become Sylvester?  Go figure!

> Thanks all for the advice and good resources.  Now I at least have some
> direction to move forward.  Now to check the Finland database at
> http://www.genealogia.fi/indexe.htm

> --
> KL