For those who were asking about one changing their name, this was offered by a person who did it in Alberta. Hope this helps answer some questions, Martha. CHANGING YOUR OWN NAME If you want to change your name you do not have to change it legally. You can just decide what you would like your name to be and then tell people like your family, friends, employer and co-workers that you would like them to call you by the new name. This is called changing your name by common usage. Once people have begun to call you by that name, you can have your identification changed to your new name; you might need to make an oath stating that people now call you by your new name for some identification changes. Also, you can change your signature to your new name and put your new name on legal documents. Remember that you can not change your name if you are trying to get out of having to pay money back that you owe, or for any other fraudulent reason. You can make an application to change your name under the Change of Name Act if you want to legally change your name. Making a legal name change is the only way to get a new birth certificate with your new name on it. To change your name legally you must be at least 18 years old and you must be a resident of Alberta. You can also change your name by completing a deed poll, which is a formal declaration stating that you now want to be called by a new name. This is a free community service provided by University of Alberta Law Students I had relatives that came to Canada in 1908 from Norway they changed their last name as people used to call them goose-head (or something similar), that's how it looked like they should pronounce it, they changed it to Torgersen-not even close to their original name:)