Does anyone know where I can find U.S. archives on citizens that have changed their surnames?

Question

I am doing research into my family's history and I know that my grandfather changed his last name when he came to the United States to sound more "American." Does anyone know if the United States keeps records of such changes and if so, where I can find them? I am very positive that the name change was made because I have found two death records for him with two different social security numbers and two different last names, both with the same birth and death dates.

Answer 1

The official record would be in the county where he did it, unless he did it informally. There isn't a nation-wide data base of name changes. The SSA might have a record of his change.

Answer 2

say what??

I STRONGLY suggest that you define what exactly is meant by a "record".  Are you talking about info from someone's gedcom/ personal files?

What you are describing, sounds way more like two different researchers, who have inaccurate data. Before going any further, what is absolutely necessary is to obtain a PRIMARY document.. meaning state issued death certificate.  

Submitted files are not "records".. they are only a conclusion from a researcher, which may or may not be supported by a valid document.  You can also run these through the social security death index, which is free at www.rootsweb.com.

I would be willing to wager that this is two different persons.