Aliens In The World Wars

Many of our forebears changed their name in wartime to escape prejudice

Those with difficult or unpronounceable foreign names often found it advantageous to use a name that was easier for the general population to handle. Frequently, those with foreign names wanted to conceal their origins. In the run-up to the First World War, numerous aliens and others who had foreign-sounding names received increasing ill-treatment, and many resorted to taking names that sounded more ‘British’. This is why George V changed the royal house’s name from Saxe-CoburgGotha to Windsor in 1917.

In 1916, aliens from enemy countries residing in Britain were forbidden to change their name; this ban was extended to all foreigners in 1919. The only exceptions were: if the change of name was assumed by royal licence; with special permission from the home secretary; or when a woman took her husband’s name on marriage. The regulation continued until 1971.

For the duration of the Second World War, 1939–1945, no one was permitted to change their name unless they had given at least 21 days’ notice of the proposed change in the

London, Edinburgh or Belfast Gazette. This was to allow the National Register records to be amended, and new National Identity Cards and ration books to be issued. When National Registration ended in 1952, the declarations were destroyed, although the information remains available in the Gazette.