Why did Christopher Columbus change his surname?

Question

From Clogne(This is what my history teacher said it was) to columbus

*Cologne

*Colon

Answer 1

He didn't change his name...people have read it in their own translation of the original. In Spanish the name was Colon, in Italian vernacular (different than scholastic Latin) it was Columbo. In scholastic Latin it was Columbus. So he never changed his own name, we just read different translations of that name based on the scholars writing about him and their understanding of the situation.

Answer 2

Columbus never changed his name. In his native Italy his name was Christofono Colombo.
When he sailed for Spain, the Spanish people called him Christobal Colon.
Historians gave him the classical name of Columbus.

Answer 3

There is still great mystery concerning the origin of Columbus and his name, as well. Most sources claim his name was actually Colombo (Italian) but recently there was also a TV show that claimed he was actually Spanish but was hiding his identity due to some family problems with the law.

Answer 4

Be careful! Teachers don't like to be called wrong. But your history teacher is wrong. He was never called "Clogne" by anybody (except, of course, by your history teacher).

Answer 5

His name was Cristoforo Colombo he was Italian. I think Columbus is just the Latin version of the name.

Answer 6

His real name was Cristoforo Columbo, an Italian name, as he was born in Italy.

His name is Cristobal Colon in Spanish.

Answer 7

he didnt he changed his first name. he took the name christopher when he went to sea naming himself after st christopher( the patrent saint of travelers. for more information about columbus check out this website.

Answer 8

I think they change it's name depending on the region they teach you... I was at spain right at the moment they teach you that... and I always thought his name was Cristobal Colón...