# 'Hitler' as a modern surname... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341 "2005-04-27T11:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/21 "2010-12-29T19:12:37Z")
Just curious - why did it take so long for your family to change their name, if it was that significant to them? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/22 "2010-12-29T20:21:53Z")
I assume he/she meant changed from “Emily Ryan” because one is more traditionally a girl’s name and the other more a boy’s name. He / she is probably either Emily Ryanne Hitler or Emilio Ryan Hitler now. ETA: Either that or the “obvious reason” is that she was a child bride. A family traditional enough to marry off their daughter as a youth is traditional enough to insist she take her husband’s name. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/23 "2010-12-29T21:07:41Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Actually his children did use Stalin as a surname. His daughter was born Svetlana Josifovna Stalina. She changed her surname to her mother’s made name, Alliluyeva, after he died. Later after she defected to the US she married for a third time and changed her name to Lana Peters. As a sidenote, I recall reading a story (possibly linked to in another similar thread here at the SDMB) about one of Joseph’s descendants who named his son Vissarion, so that when he had a kid he could name it Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, the full name of the dicatator (in Russia, ar person’s middle name is typically a variation of the father’s first name). So I guess at least a few people in his family still hold him in high regard. ---
**Author:** ![bleibtreu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bleibtreu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleibtreu)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/24 "2010-12-29T21:32:18Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Yes, he admits it’s not a great name to have if you’re an entertainer, Actually, it’d probably be a pretty good one. Especially for a comedian. When I started reading the OP, I remembered having once heard of a “Vic Hitler” on television, but I couldn’t connect it to a given show. Now you’ve pointed out to me that it’s a character name, a very minor character on a program I haven’t seen in a couple of decades. So it’s certainly memorable. It’s not the name that ruined Vic Hitler’s career; must have been the narcolepsy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/25 "2010-12-29T21:35:32Z")
> [@bleibtreu](#): > > Actually, it’d probably be a pretty good one. Especially for a comedian. Craig Ferguson performed as an obnoxious character named Bing Hitler for several years. For a real person it would be more of a hindrance. How many concert halls or clubs are going to want to book someone named Hitler? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/26 "2010-12-30T00:15:21Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > How many concert halls or clubs are going to want to book someone named Hitler? There might be one or two in Buenos Aires… ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/27 "2010-12-30T00:21:25Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > As a sidenote, I recall reading a story (possibly linked to in another similar thread here at the SDMB) about one of Joseph’s descendants who named his son Vissarion, so that when he had a kid he could name it Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, the full name of the dicatator (in Russia, ar person’s middle name is typically a variation of the father’s first name). So I guess at least a few people in his family still hold him in high regard. [More than a few people:](http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2009/10/20/Stalins-popularity-comeback-in-Russia/UPI-27941256050649/) > [@UPI](#): > > Surveys indicate that the image of Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union with an iron fist for nearly three decades until his death in 1953, has improved over the past years. > > A July 2007 poll questioning Russian teenagers found that 54 percent of them agreed that Stalin did more good than bad; roughly half agreed that Stalin was a wise leader. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/28 "2010-12-30T01:57:40Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Another anecdote: > > There was an old, German farmer in Iowa named Adolf Hitler. During WWII a reporter asked him if he planned to change his name. He answered, “I had it first. Let the other guy change his name.” This may be related, but I clearly recall about 10 years ago reading of a Midwestern man whose surname was Hitler, and he refused to change it, much to the chagrin of his children. Seems the daughters were desperate to get married. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/29 "2010-12-30T02:19:20Z")
> [@emily9889](#): > > I am a Hitler, born Emily Ryan Hitler, on March 12, 1981. My family had my name changed as a child (for obvious reasons) but I have always been curious about others. Girl Hitler? So what is Unterbeit really like? ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/30 "2010-12-30T02:53:24Z")
Those of you who are into zombies and Nazis may enjoy [this film!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278340/) ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/31 "2010-12-30T03:59:28Z")
> [@D18](#): > > Those of you who are into zombies and Nazis may enjoy [this film!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278340/) On the plus side, the Zombie Poster actually had interesting, appropriate information to add to the thread. (Can I claim that term? Zombie Poster? ZP?) -D/a ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/32 "2010-12-30T05:10:17Z")
Old thread, older joke: Guy enters a courtroom and walks up to the judge. “Your honor,” he says, “I want to change my name.” “Why?” the judge inquires. “What’s your name?” “Joe Hitler,” the guy answers. “Joe Hitler?” the judge responds with some shock. “I can understand why you want to change your name. What do you want to change it to?” “Regis,” he replies. “Regis?” the judge repeats incredulously. “_Regis_ Hitler?” “Yeah,” the man-who-wants-to-be-called-Regis says. “I’ve had it up to here with people saying, ‘Hey Joe, whadya know?’” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/33 "2010-12-30T05:31:59Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Craig Ferguson performed as an obnoxious character named Bing Hitler for several years. For a real person it would be more of a hindrance. How many concert halls or clubs are going to want to book someone named Hitler? Yeah, **bonzer** told us that over five years ago. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/34 "2010-12-30T05:38:04Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Yeah, **bonzer** told us that over five years ago. 😃 Great Zombie Hitler! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Astronaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bad\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/35 "2010-12-30T07:51:31Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I assume he/she meant changed from “Emily Ryan” because one is more traditionally a girl’s name and the other more a boy’s name. He / she is probably either Emily Ryanne Hitler or Emilio Ryan Hitler now. :dubious: I think it’s plainly obvious from the context - she’s saying her last name was changed to something other than Hitler (for obvious reasons). > [@emily9889](#): > > I am a Hitler, born Emily Ryan Hitler, on March 12, 1981. My family had my name changed as a child (for obvious reasons) but I have always been curious about others. So you created an account in order to post your original name and birthdate on a public forum? This makes me suspicious, although I can’t imagine what you could be up to. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/36 "2010-12-30T08:29:10Z")
There was a punk-rockabilly group called "Elvis Hitler’ about 20 years ago that recorded a version of of the theme for “Green Avres” tv show played a la Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”. They reformed in 2005. > **[Elvis Hitler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Hitler)** > > Elvis Hitler is an American rock & psychobilly band from Detroit, Michigan. The band was named after the moniker of their lead singer, Jim Leedy, a combination of rockabilly singer Elvis Presley's first name and the last name of dictator Adolf Hitler. > The band currently consists of singer Jim Leedy (a.k.a. "Elvis Hitler"), guitarist John Defever, and drummer Geno OneMore. Their first album, Disgraceland, was initially released on Wang Head records in 1987 (WH004) and early copies came in a ha... ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/37 "2010-12-30T15:52:52Z")
And let’s not forget the 1970s punk band back called “The Very Idea of Fucking Hitler.” ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/38 "2010-12-30T16:01:47Z")
There was also a character called ‘Eddie Hitler’ in the early nineties British sit-com [Bottom](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottom_%28TV_series%29). I seem to remember in the show it’s suggested a couple of times that Eddie may be related to Adolf Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/39 "2010-12-30T16:18:44Z")
> [@emily9889](#): > > I am a Hitler, born Emily Ryan Hitler, on March 12, 1981. My family had my name changed as a child (for obvious reasons) but I have always been curious about others. 😕 They were happy with the name Hitler for 40 years after WWII and only decided to change it after they had a daughter in the 1980s? ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341/40 "2010-12-30T16:34:16Z")
I school I knew a guy named Hettler. I always wondered if his family’s name was originally Hitler or some close variation thereof and if they decided to change it when Adolf became infamous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-as-a-modern-surname/301341.md?page=3)