Is it true that in canada they obligated immigrants to change their last names?

Question

Hello everyone,

me and my husband (i'm mexican and he is canadian), have a debate regarding last names of immigrants in canada. He said that his grandmother's last name was Morelli, but when she came to Canada they made her change her last name to Morel so it would sound more french. Is this true? or he is just feeling italian?

Answer 1

I dont think this is true, i have got many friends who have emigrated to Canada and they still have the same last names. If Canada imposed a law like this, it would go against human rights. I'm quiet sure this is a big lie.

Answer 2

Names were sometimes changed by immigration due to an inability to understand the immigrant's accent or language, or simply by writing the wrong spelling down on the paperwork done at the time.  This was not done intentionally, but there are many people in the country who's names are spelled differently from their relatives in the "old country".  My family's name was changed slightly by immigration officials who spelled it wrong, and it was never corrected.

Answer 3

O.o... I don't think it's true... it would be weird... and unpolite!

For sure, they read the italian lastname wrong. French people read Rossi (a typical italian lastname) Rossì, they put an accent on the last vocal... this is true, but is only because of their language... not because they're unpolite!