By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Nine decades ago the Royal Family switched to an English-sounding name because of anti-German feeling. Is there an echo of their predicament today?
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Nine decades ago the Royal Family switched to an English-sounding name because of anti-German feeling, as did many of their subjects. Is there an echo of this predicament today?
In this era of the carousel of mass migration, family names are more important than ever. When we alter them we lose a little bit of where we came from.
In this era of the carousel of mass migration, family names are more important than ever. When we alter them we lose a little bit of where we came from.
Yet 90 years ago, perhaps Europe's most famous family decided to change its name, backed into a corner by a public increasingly hysterical about the enemy within.
Yet 90 years ago, perhaps Europe's most famous family decided to change its name, backed into a corner by a public increasingly hysterical about the enemy within.
On 18 July 1917 the Times newspaper carried a royal proclamation introducing the name Windsor and dropping "all German titles and dignities".
On 18 July 1917 the Times newspaper carried a royal proclamation introducing the name Windsor and dropping "all German titles and dignities".
King George V was under considerable pressure
King George V was under considerable pressure
Since the marriage of Victoria - the last of the Hanovers - to Prince Albert, Britain's royal family had been "of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha", or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. In a time of brutal war with Germany, a more German family name would be hard to find.
Since the marriage of Victoria - the last of the Hanovers - to Prince Albert, Britain's royal family had been "of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha", or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. In a time of brutal war with Germany, a more German family name would be hard to find.
After three long years of World War I, anti-German feeling had approached fever pitch, fuelled by wild tales of alleged German atrocities.
After three long years of World War I, anti-German feeling had approached fever pitch, fuelled by wild tales of alleged German atrocities.
In 1915, with the war less than a year old, the sinking of the liner Lusitania by a German submarine - with the loss of almost 1,200 lives - prompted a fresh wave of outrage in Britain, as well as the US and the Empire. The consequences for Germans in Britain were grave.
In 1915, with the war less than a year old, the sinking of the liner Lusitania by a German submarine - with the loss of almost 1,200 lives - prompted a fresh wave of outrage in Britain, as well as the US and the Empire. The consequences for Germans in Britain were grave.
Days of anti-German rioting in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and elsewhere saw Germans menaced and buildings wrecked.
Days of anti-German rioting in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and elsewhere saw Germans menaced and buildings wrecked.
So many bakers' shops were destroyed in the East End of London, with bags of flour emptied and loaves smashed in the street, that a local shortage of bread immediately followed.
So many bakers' shops were destroyed in the East End of London, with bags of flour emptied and loaves smashed in the street, that a local shortage of bread immediately followed.
Windows smashed
Windows smashed
In Bradford and Nottingham, groups of naturalised Germans rushed to sign letters expressing their desire to see Britain victorious and Germany crushed. But it wasn't just Germans in danger, as the Times noted.
In Bradford and Nottingham, groups of naturalised Germans rushed to sign letters expressing their desire to see Britain victorious and Germany crushed. But it wasn't just Germans in danger, as the Times noted.
"There were many streets in the borough [of Poplar] which had turned German shopkeepers out with a thoroughness which involved also the victimization of people whose name was not so distinctively English that no mistake on the part of the mob was possible."
"There were many streets in the borough [of Poplar] which had turned German shopkeepers out with a thoroughness which involved also the victimization of people whose name was not so distinctively English that no mistake on the part of the mob was possible."
A mob in Leytonstone took one look at the name of a Scottish landlord Strachan above the door of a pub and promptly smashed all the windows.
A mob in Leytonstone took one look at the name of a Scottish landlord Strachan above the door of a pub and promptly smashed all the windows.
The Lusitania sinking sparked days of rioting
The Lusitania sinking sparked days of rioting
The newspaper backed the segregation of all Germans of military age and the deportation of those who were not. There were estimated to be 60,000 Germans, Austo-Hungarians and Turks in the country as well as 8,000 naturalised citizens of "enemy origin".
The newspaper backed the segregation of all Germans of military age and the deportation of those who were not. There were estimated to be 60,000 Germans, Austo-Hungarians and Turks in the country as well as 8,000 naturalised citizens of "enemy origin".
Significantly, it noted: "We find evidence of a widespread feeling that naturalization should not necessarily procure exemption."
Significantly, it noted: "We find evidence of a widespread feeling that naturalization should not necessarily procure exemption."
These words would have chilled King George V to the marrow. Austrian-born Prince Louis of Battenberg, a key member of the royal circle, had to resign his position as First Sea Lord because of his German heritage in 1914. By 1917, the pressure had spread to the whole family.
These words would have chilled King George V to the marrow. Austrian-born Prince Louis of Battenberg, a key member of the royal circle, had to resign his position as First Sea Lord because of his German heritage in 1914. By 1917, the pressure had spread to the whole family.
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said pressure from politicians had forced the king's hand.
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said pressure from politicians had forced the king's hand.
"It got to a certain point in World War I where even if you had a dachshund you were regarded as German. Pressure was applied to the king. The consensus started to be spread that the king was pro-German. It was politicians as much as anything."
"It got to a certain point in World War I where even if you had a dachshund you were regarded as German. Pressure was applied to the king. The consensus started to be spread that the king was pro-German. It was politicians as much as anything."
Overnight change
Overnight change
So in 1917 the royal family saw their name change overnight, princes lost their titles and became lords, the Battenbergs opted for literal translation and became Mountbatten, and the quintessentially royal and English "Windsor" was introduced - the brainchild of the king's private secretary Lord Stamfordham.
So in 1917 the royal family saw their name change overnight, princes lost their titles and became lords, the Battenbergs opted for literal translation and became Mountbatten, and the quintessentially royal and English "Windsor" was introduced - the brainchild of the king's private secretary Lord Stamfordham.
"Prince Louis of Battenberg went to stay with his son at a naval base in Scotland and wrote in the visitors book 'arrived Prince Hyde, left Lord Jekyll'," says Mr Little.
"Prince Louis of Battenberg went to stay with his son at a naval base in Scotland and wrote in the visitors book 'arrived Prince Hyde, left Lord Jekyll'," says Mr Little.
Many Russians were caught up in mob violence
Many Russians were caught up in mob violence
But the royals' decision to change name was a path also trodden by immigrants to the UK in the 19th and 20th Century, particularly Jewish.
But the royals' decision to change name was a path also trodden by immigrants to the UK in the 19th and 20th Century, particularly Jewish.
Playwright Tom Stoppard was born Tomas Straussler, and newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell grew up as Jan Ludvik Hoch.
For Jews and other immigrants arriving in the 19th Century to live in an East End populated by co-religionists a name change was unnecessary, but for those aiming for middle class respectability it could be a temptation.
For Jews and other immigrants arriving in the 19th Century to live in an East End populated by co-religionists a name change was unnecessary, but for those aiming for middle class respectability it could be a temptation.
'Easier' names
'Easier' names
"Among common or garden East European Jews from the 1880s to 1914, probably name changes were quite rare, partly because it would have just been complicated to carry out," says Jewish relations historian Prof Tony Kushner.
"Among common or garden East European Jews from the 1880s to 1914, probably name changes were quite rare, partly because it would have just been complicated to carry out," says Jewish relations historian Prof Tony Kushner.
"But sometimes people might have been given slightly 'easier' names by immigration officials when they landed at the docks, an unofficial form of assimilation. And for those aspiring to the middle classes and the professions, it might have been more common. It might have eased their way."
"But sometimes people might have been given slightly 'easier' names by immigration officials when they landed at the docks, an unofficial form of assimilation. And for those aspiring to the middle classes and the professions, it might have been more common. It might have eased their way."
Coming from a background of brutal oppression, one can see the temptation to accept a little loss of identity. There is an echo in Iraq.
Coming from a background of brutal oppression, one can see the temptation to accept a little loss of identity. There is an echo in Iraq.
The king and kaiser were cousins
The king and kaiser were cousins
With the current rabid sectarian violence, Sunnis living in Shia areas, and vice versa, have to take precautions against falling victim. There are names that are regarded as distinctively Sunni or Shia, and residents have been known to go as far as changing their name, or more commonly, carry multiple IDs with Shia and Sunni identities.
With the current rabid sectarian violence, Sunnis living in Shia areas, and vice versa, have to take precautions against falling victim. There are names that are regarded as distinctively Sunni or Shia, and residents have been known to go as far as changing their name, or more commonly, carry multiple IDs with Shia and Sunni identities.
But in the UK today it is hard to imagine anyone having to go to the lengths of changing their name to either protect themselves or further assimilation.
But in the UK today it is hard to imagine anyone having to go to the lengths of changing their name to either protect themselves or further assimilation.
In a tolerant and ethnically-diverse society, where racism is condemned by the establishment, do people still feel compelled to surrender part of their identity?
In a tolerant and ethnically-diverse society, where racism is condemned by the establishment, do people still feel compelled to surrender part of their identity?
There has always been the occasional shortenings or informal replacements of South Asian first names, Harry for Harvinder or Monty for Mudhsuden [Panesar] being typical. But none of the main immigrant groups can identify a current trend for changing surnames.
There has always been the occasional shortenings or informal replacements of South Asian first names, Harry for Harvinder or Monty for Mudhsuden [Panesar] being typical. But none of the main immigrant groups can identify a current trend for changing surnames.
But some Muslims are coming under pressure to play down their identity because of the country-wide problem of "Islamophobia", says one campaign group.
But some Muslims are coming under pressure to play down their identity because of the country-wide problem of "Islamophobia", says one campaign group.
Campaigners say Islamophobia is rising
Campaigners say Islamophobia is rising
Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, says although there is little research on the subject, he has been told of numerous cases of Muslims either shortening their names to make them sound less Islamic, or even changing them completely in order to get jobs.
Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, says although there is little research on the subject, he has been told of numerous cases of Muslims either shortening their names to make them sound less Islamic, or even changing them completely in order to get jobs.
"It is becoming probably more common, especially since 9/11 and 7/7. We are now facing such an ever-increasing Islamophobia. All the indications are that people are less likely to get an interview [for a job] with a Muslim name."
"It is becoming probably more common, especially since 9/11 and 7/7. We are now facing such an ever-increasing Islamophobia. All the indications are that people are less likely to get an interview [for a job] with a Muslim name."
There is nothing wrong with changing your name, but as Mr Shadjareh concludes, being forced into it is what is unacceptable.
There is nothing wrong with changing your name, but as Mr Shadjareh concludes, being forced into it is what is unacceptable.
