How can i track down my family history if my grandpa changed his last name?

Question

my grandpa changed his last name to shelton when he came to Canada, in hope that having an English name would help him get a job. how can i find my family history if no one in my family knows what his real last name was? (he has since passed away) his real last name was Ukrainian, im sure of that, but thats all i know! any ideas about what i can do? thanks!

Answer 1

Do you know if he changed it legally (officially with the government) or if he just stepped off the boat so to speak and chose a new name?

If it was done through legal channels there would be a record of it.  

Otherwise, it could be difficult if not impossible.  Ask your eldest relative if they know or ever heard any mention of it.  

Or, does anyone have an idea when he arrived in Canada.  If you have the date you can search passenger records to see how many came from the Ukraine on that date.  Might get lucky and find he was the only one on that ship.   Possibly, he even used the name Shelton on the ship's passenger list?  You could track it back to his original boarding site.  See if he got on the boat with any other family members...the rosters often show entire families traveling together, as well as where they originated, where they were going and who they were going to visit (if any).

So you have a copy of his death certificate?  That might show  information on where he was born, who his parents were, etc.

Good luck.