My own morfar's far changed his name to George Adams to get away from his birth family because it was a touch less obvious than John Smith, so who on earth knows what's back there, except that he wanted it to stay back there.

We have two stories like that on my mother's side. In one case we know what was behind the change of name and scenery; the other successfully made it disappear.

I see how it slides things around strangely. I do sympathize.

Thank you.