Everyone who has claimed & some still claim that “Jews (or Antisemitic officials) changed their last name at Ellis Island is very mistaken as it almost never happened because it was virtually impossible for it to happen.
A captain is responsible for everyone on his ship. So he has to have accurate records of who is on board. In order for a Jew (& Non-Jew) to board they needed to show the ship line their paperwork so it could be properly recorded.
Upon arrival at Ellis Island the immigration officials would take the Captains log to work off of. The wait in line was long. There were 9 Yiddish speaking employees (not officers just civilians) that would go up & down the line explaining to the Jews the process, arrange the documents, tell them what to say, etc). So when a Jew finally came before an officer, the officer had their name in Europe in the Captains log as well as the paperwork with their real name. A few people had a letter left out one brother “Goldstein” & the other “GoldsHtein” But that a Jew walked onto Ellis Island “Goldstein” & walked “Johnson” is a complete myth.
So if anyone claims that tell them they’re wrong. Which some don’t like hearing.
