What’s In A Name?

My Grandmother Stith’s maiden name was Stein.

Sounds like a Jewish name but she and her family were Christians, Methodists.

According to family lore my paternal grandmother, Anne Belle Stein, had a brother named Jack who worked as a salesman in a shoe store. One fine day Jack Stein was offered a promotion to store manager. Only one problem, the owner said — Stein sounded Jewish. If he wanted the promotion he’d have to change his name.

And he did, he changed his name.

Thereafter he was known in the family as “Jack Who?”

Coming Friday: Trail Lessons