Surnames and ethnic identity

[oc16]

Maybe I think about unique/bizarre stuff, but I'll come out with it anyway.

Seems like people in the States ignorantly look at your surname and that's the ethnicity they will identify you with. It's like they forget you have a mother.

For example, my surname is very Irish. However, I am only about 1/8th Irish, don't look it one bit and don't identify with it. My Mom is all Italian and I look Italian.

It's like no, you can't be an Italian or anything else because of your last name...haha.

Yet people think I'm this big Irishman because of my surname and one year my boss asked me if I wanted off St. Patrick's Day because "It's my holiday" .

Did you know actor Robert Deniro is only 25% Italian but people think he's some super Italian because of his surname and movies. In fact, Jimmy Kimmel, Bradley Cooper, Jason Biggs and Bruce Springsteen are all way more Italian than Bobby Deniro.

I'm have no problem being Irish but it's annoying people just seem to look at your surname.

 

[corrector]

That's childsplay stuff since both Italian and Irish is white and ethnicity doesn't seem to matter in terms of you having your job in the first place and being in decent terms with your boss, you are generally held in high esteem and don't have any systemic barriers or issues.

I have a Jewish last name and an Italian first name, but do people think I'm Italian or Jewish? They just are shocked because I'm not white and have a white sounding first name and last name since I look too brown for that name.

 

[FairShake]

I don't think anyone cares about your ethnic identity anymore. You're White in our stratified society.

 

[EyeBRollin]

My surname is very English, like most African Americans. It helps more than it hurts.

 

[corrector]

My surname is very English, like most African Americans. It helps more than it hurts.

Well allot of African Americans may have names that were adopted from their masters during slavery than carried down. My mother's last name for example is the name of a French city, but what does that have to do with Africa? Similar I'm sure your real last name would probably be of an African sounding name before it was changed in the past.

As tempting as it sounds to have a more English name change, I don't like the idea that the English name sounds like someone who frequents prostitutes or a fancy name for a toilet/washroom, and even though there is an odd reaction here or there, my parents are still married and my last name proper if that's my father's name, etc... I can't do anything about people being ignorant. However, because of the way some members of his family have treated me, and the overall stratification of society, I'm may not be too identify too much with the Italian side and feel it's more of a pass-for-white card, at least on paper and on the phone.

 

[djreez88]

Some surnames were actually received based on your ancestors background as well. Like Butler, ect...

 

[Kotaix]

I've been looked at before by some guys and just been told "You're not from around here are you." And I just answered "Nope". I honestly don't give two sh!ts if someone is a racist or some kind of identitarian. They can think whatever they want, it doesn't phase me.

 

[lost_blackbird]

My first and last names together are just one letter different from a very famous pop star
who's very popular with the ladies. If you google me, you get him as a mis spell is assumed.
LOL The two different letters are next to each other on a standard QWERTY keyboard layout
and it's literally the first letter of his christian name that's different to me.
Hasn't done me any favours tho, I'm easily old enough to be his dad, but do have similar floppy
hair and a penchant for sexually ambiguous tattoos .

 

[Xenom0rph]

Robert Deniro may only be 25% Italian, but he has a very typical Italian (Mediterranean) look and so an Italian surname fits him.

"Tyrone" is actually an Irish name, but if I ever meet a White guy named "Tyrone" I'll LOL.... just like if I meet a White guy name "Jerome" even though "Jerome" is a Greek name.