Same thing happened after WW1 too btw. The strong anti-German sentiments across the US and Europe prompted multiple changes. William and Vilhelm became Bills or Ville; Müller became Miller; Schmidt became Smith.
I had a lot of Swedish family who did this from around 1915-1930 and as you said, again after WW2.
Same thing happened after WW1 too btw. The strong anti-German sentiments across the US and Europe prompted multiple changes. William and Vilhelm became Bills or Ville; Müller became Miller; Schmidt became Smith.
I had a lot of Swedish family who did this from around 1915-1930 and as you said, again after WW2.
What about John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt? Everyone seemed to share a name with him according to lore.
It’s probably so popular on account of people always shouting it.
Hey! That’s my name, too!