Friends, It appears that my great grandfather changed his name when he moved from Ohio to Illinois by adding a double letter to his name, Arm to Armm. He was not an immigrant, but born in Ohio in 1848, then married in Illinois in 1873 with the name changed. I do not know why he did this. He was a carpenter, not a theatrical person. All nine of his children spelled their name with two ms as did his grandchildren. His sisters and brothers retained the single m spelling. Does anyone know what the Illinois law governing name changes was in the 1860s? What court or legislative body would have been petitioned? Or would the change just have been accepted in his new state without question? I am assuming he made the change in Illinois, not Ohio, but maybe he changed it in Ohio or even on the way, in Indiana. I will start with Illinois though. The 1984 edition of The Source, pp. 187-190 gives some guidance for some states but not for Illinois or Ohio. Thank you. Shirley Maul shirleymaul@optonline.net