# i just heard the one about thomas edison being mexican

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-heard-the-one-about-thomas-edison-being-mexican/319529>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 1, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-heard-the-one-about-thomas-edison-being-mexican/319529 "2005-09-01T01:35:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-heard-the-one-about-thomas-edison-being-mexican/319529/21 "2014-04-16T19:02:45Z")

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> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#):
>
> If this is a reference to Ellis Island officials changing immigrant names, well, not only did this never happen but there never was even an opportunity for them to ever change a name. [Random one of zillions of cites](http://www.genealogy.com/88_donna.html).

Not Ellis Island, since there’s no reason for a Mexican to enter the US via an EC port, but same principle, yes. Interesting citation.

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**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-heard-the-one-about-thomas-edison-being-mexican/319529/22 "2014-04-16T19:26:16Z")

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> [@rlanpo](#):
>
> thank you!
> 
> now unfortunately i must disillusion my fellow teachers. that will be fun. by fun i mean we’ll play shoot the messenger and i’ll be the messenger. whee.

If they actually believe this story, maybe you can teach a critical thinking class for them, since it sounds like they can use one.

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**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-heard-the-one-about-thomas-edison-being-mexican/319529/23 "2014-04-16T20:50:59Z")

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Since the real name of Brazilian soccer legend Pele is Edson Arantes, and he was named after Thomas Edison, well… it stands to reason Thomas Edison was Brazilian.

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**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-heard-the-one-about-thomas-edison-being-mexican/319529/24 "2014-04-17T20:43:35Z")

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> [@astorian](#):
>
> Since the real name of Brazilian soccer legend Pele is Edson Arantes, and he was named after Thomas Edison, well… it stands to reason Thomas Edison was Brazilian.

Hmm, then I’m Swedish royalty.

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