It was common in former times for Jewish families to change their names. There are many reasons for that,
My own Jewish family was originally Moses, but during the nineteenth century different branches of the family changed their name, some to Moss, some to Morse, some to Beddington, and my own family changed to Walford.
Samuel Jacob Eliezer Zessel Moses, also with the name Wintzenheimer attached somewhere, was born in London in about 1808; his parents were Jacob ben Eliezer Wintzenheimer, and Clara bat Lazi Jonas who was Jacob’s first wife. Samuel had at least two sisters and four brothers, who changed their names to Moss. Samuel stayed as Moses and his thirteen children by his wife Rosetta were born with that name. Rosetta was another Moses, Samuel’s cousin and her brothers changed their names to Beddington.
Samuel’s son Louis was born in 1845 in Tasmania where the family had travelled to, five years before, to begin a new life as traders and merchants. At some point during his years in Tasmania Louis, my great-grandfather, and his brothers, Edward, Ernest, Lionel and Howard changed their name to Walford.
Why Walford? I guess I will never know. The only clue is that one of the first Jewish settlers to Tasmania then known as Van Dieman’s Land, was a convict called Barnard Walford. Barnard had been born in Vienna and moved to London where he lived a precarious life and was eventually arrested in 1791 for stealing a petticoat and transported to the colonies, the usual punishment at that time. Barnard eventually became a free man in Tasmania and he and his wife ran a number of pubs. He was dead by the time my Moses family arrived, but his children were prominent members of the Jewish community in Hobart.
There was a family rumour that a Mr Walford was a member of the same Masonic Lodge as Samuel which was why Samuel chose that name for his children, but that sounds a little far-fetched.
So why Walford? Why did my great-grandfather change from being Louis Frederick Moses to Louis Frederick Walford? I guess I’ll never know!
Lois Elsden 
Interesting stuff. I too am Jewish and the family name of Fiveson was no doubt changed when my ancestors left Lithuania. There are many variations of my name, and Fiveson appears to be the simplest.
I believe you are my sister, Lois, and that makes me happy.
LikeLike
Oh bro, that makes me happy too! I think Fiveson is a wonderful name – I did wonder where it came from!
LikeLike
Might be worth looking into the lodge records. It struck me that Walford might be the name of the lodge, rather than the name of a member.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! He definitely was Walford but we don’t know why he and his brothers used that name – it is very likely he was in a Lodge so maybe that’s where he got the name from! Thank you!! brilliant idea!!
LikeLike
Lois, The man in your portrait is Louis Frederick Moses (1843-1895), perhaps the eldest brother to change his name to Walford. Howard Walford, one of the youngest sons married Lucy Straus who was the sister of my great-grandmother Mary Florence Sington (born Straus). But Howard (and Frederick) were both descendants of Hyam Nathan (1743-1824) as am I. Alfred, the first son of Samuel Zessel and Blanche Retzel (<Rachel) Moses, kept the name Moses. I don't know exactly when the family changed their surname to Moses, but would very much like to know. Retzel Moses's mother Esther Moses (wife of Henry Tsebi Moses) was the sister of my g-g-g-grandmother Sarah H Nathan (1787-1837), the wife of Nathan Lion Nathan (1783-1850). Regards, Jeremy Nathan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Jeremy, Louis Frederick was my great-grandfather! We must be distant cousins. Hyam Nathan, I think was also my ancestor, through Rosetta Blanche Moses who was married to Samuel Moses; her grandfather was Hyam.
I am intrigued to know why some of the Moses brothers changed their name to Walford – while they were in Tasmania. I know there was a family of Walfords descended from Barnard Walford a man originally from Austria who was transported to Van Dieman’s Land but whether there was any connection with him and our family I have no idea.
LikeLike
Barnard Walford is my 5x great grandfather, together with his wife Jane Mulloy, also a convict. Their daughter Rebekah had a son with Williamson. Their son James changed his name from Williamson to Murdoch and “covered his tracks” to Adelaide. He married Honor Tonkin and they opened up a large holding on southern Yorke peninsula at Warooka.
My name is Anthony Herring and we live at Angaston in The Barossa Valley
AJ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Anthony, thanks so much for getting in touch. This is absolutely fascinating because I have come across Barnard and Jane in my researches into my Walford family. I am sure there is no connection between the two families except by name and the fact that they must have known each other. My great-grandfather Louis Frederick Walford was the son of Samuel Moses JP, a Jewish business man who came to Tasmania from London and set up what was in essence an export/import business with his brother-in-law. For some reason my ancestor Louis (born in Hobart) changed his name to Walford while in Tasmania, and his daughter Ida Walford was my grandma.
I have always wondered why they chose Walford – the family must have known Barnard and attended the same synagogue, I believe, and I have never ever been able to find an answer!
How wonderful that you have such detailed information about your family! I know of the Barossa Valley of course because of the wonderful wine it produces. I have only been to Australia once, and that was to visit Tasmania in search of my family history, but also because it’s such a wonderful place. We were there for five weeks, mostly in Hobart but also to Launceston and area. We visited the synagogue while we were there and also other places of significance.
It’s an absolute mystery to us why Louis and his brothers chose Walford as their surname, but assume because they must have known and deeply respected Barnard and his family.
With best wishes from England,
Lois
LikeLike
The first person buried in Hobart Jewish cemetery in about 1827? Was a man named Walford. Could be the connection. My mum name was Walford and I think Louis is my great , great grandfather.
LikeLike
Hi Jeff, I think we may be cousins – Was you mum Betty, daughter of Edward and Ethel? Edward was my grandma’s cousin, and I was named after his mother Lois née Penney! You can get in touch if you like – loiselsden@gmail.com
LikeLike
hi, my great great great grandfather too and I lived with that painting in Hampshire UK.
nothing I write here is visible to me so apologies for all typos! Best Harriet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Harriet, we must be distant cousins! I’ve written lots of other stories about him and the family.
LikeLike
Hi Lois, I like to think th
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi – your answer seems to have been eaten!
LikeLike