A meticulously documented collection of people who changed their surname in France between 1803 and 1956. The most common reason to change one’s surname was shame; the family name either sounded vulgar, funny or downright degrading. A new name meant less ridicule. And while most people attempted to forget their old name as quickly as possible, French archivists like Jérôme made sure they were on record for eternity. Not all names were changed to avoid mockery. A lot of Jewish people chose a more French sounding surname in an attempt to avoid discrimination.