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Thanks Svenja
 Found some names but not enough information for me to know if they are related to us or not.

Just helped somebody out with this and thought it would be useful to others:

What were they called:

Many people emigrating to a new country have changed their names
- to avoid political repurcussions,
- to "disappear" from view, as far as the "Old Country" was concerned
- "new country, new start in life", trying to fit in
- the old name was hard to understand, so the name was anglicised, either voluntarily, or, in some cases, arbitrarily by immigration officials

Whatever the reasons, it makes life difficult for us, unless we know both the  "before & after" names.

Here a some of the simpler name changes:

1) straight translation. the name looks similar and has the same meaning
e.g. Braun => Brown, Schmidt => Smith, Grun or Grün => Green, Müller => Miller, -feld => -field, etc

2) losing the umlaut vowels (pronounced: um-lout)
the official, alternative spellings for ä,ö, ü, ß are ae, oe, ue, ss.  But on emigrating, many just dropped the umlaut => a, o, u,
e.g. Gröbener => Groebener or => Grobener
But: ä can be pronounced 'ay' as in Hay or 'e' as in hedge, so Bäcker might become Becker (soundex) or Baker (translation) or Backer (lose the umlaut)

Any other suggestions ??

p.s.
The exception confirms the rule:
Looking through the Susser Archive: http://www.eclipse.co.uk/exeshul/susser/dentists.htm I found this sentence, which I just have to share with you:

".. Abraham ben Isaiah, otherwise known as Moses Abraham Groomsfelt, or Jones,
a silversmith .."

I found the idea of changing his name to JONES amusing.
I could understand GROOMFIELD or something similar, but JONES !! 
--- the mind boggles. There has to be a story there !

Edited: 02.04.2005
cell has just posted a "searching for " story on http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,47221.0.html
Her ancestor changed his name from Karlson to Carlson !!!!

Hi Bob,

I found your post very interesting and wondered of you could help me.

My 3rd Great Grandfather came to Australia, his death certificate states he was born in Prussia  about 1834. His marriage certificate states he was born in Hanover Germany.  Not sure if he came direct to Australia or via another country. Maybe around 1852. His surname was Kauiers on his death certificate here in Oz, however it was transcribed on some of his children's birth and death certificates as Kauers,  Kauier, Kaniers Kanier Kauirs etc etc.

I cannot find anything about his past history in Prussia, could there be a  German translation for Kauiers that you would be aware of or would you be able to give many any pointers on where to start searching.

With fingers crossed Kaz

Searching in German:

Try googling for your ancestors in English, and then in German.
I'll start a german vocabulary list here, and add to it as needed.

Ahnenforschung = ancestor research
Familiengeschichte = family history
Familienforschung = family research
Genealogie = genealogy
Kirchenbuch = parish register
kirchenbücher = parish registers

Thank you for this info - could come in very handy

Hi Guys, this is my first attempt to post.  No idea what I am doing. 
George P Bowe b 1828 is my 2nd Great Grandfather, his father George G b. 1799 came to Aust and died here. His Father George O Bowe b. 1775 married twice (or at least had children to 2 women) The first being Issidora Gonyie to whom he had George G and then he had 2 boys William 1803 and John 1805 to Smith Scott whom he married in 1802.
The only real information I have on  George O's father is that his name is also George.  Are you confused by all the Georges  yet!!!!   All family trees I have found have this George Bowe married to Elizabeth Skelly daug, of Lady Elizabeth (Betty) Gordon who married Rev J Skelly. I have found church records of  Rev's of Shilbottle Church to prove this is correct however I need proof that Rev. George Bowe is our George Bowe.  Does anyone have any information or proof. 
George O was a Capt in the 3rd Royal Garrison Batt at the time of his sons birth in 1805.  I cannot find any war records for him that may give more information on his father or places that he lived.
However, what I did notice is that one of the sponsors/grandparent's of William Gordon was George Marquis of Huntly, which is part of Lady Betty Gordon's Lineage.
Hoping someone out there can help Kaz