Where can i look further for a name change? i have a grandfather who changed to Bernhard Emil Johnson after he arrived from Norway.(1908) We need the original name to maybe find his parents, ect..
The name is probably not changed much (use "start with" in search).
You're probably more ine the need of birth year/age/departuring place etc.
I did not find any Bernhxxx Joxxx leaving Norway at any database in 1908. But there is one - and only one - person in the 1900 cencus carrying both first names and having a surname starting with Jo. Could this be your man?
A painter from Drammen, born 1852, a painter, sitting in Oslo Prison...:
I have a picture of grandpa when he was young(late teens).On the back of the picture it is stamped Stavenger. My mothers records of birthdays has his as Febuary 2-1895 Maybe the one you found was his father so he took his name after he came here.
Bernhard Emil Jakobsen , b. 1895 in Flekkefjord left Kristiansand for New York March 23 1911 on S/S United States. His final destination was uncle Gust. Gilbertsen in Gladstone, Michigan.