Frank Gehry was born Frank Owen Goldberg and changed his surname to Gehry in the 1950s primarily to avoid antisemitic discrimination. His then‑wife, Anita Snyder, and others around him were concerned that a recognizably Jewish last name could limit opportunities and expose their family to prejudice, especially in his professional life as an architect.
Context of the name change
Biographical accounts describe Gehry as having experienced antisemitism from an early age and during his studies, which contributed to pressure to adopt a less “Jewish‑sounding” surname in order to advance in architecture and protect future children from bias. He ultimately chose “Gehry,” a name with non‑Jewish connotations that was seen as safer in the social and professional climate of mid‑20th‑century North America.
His later view of the decision
Later in life, Gehry spoke about regretting the change, saying that he would not make the same decision under different social conditions. He has framed the name change as a response to the prejudice of the time rather than a rejection of his heritage, and biographical profiles continue to note his Jewish background and original family name, Goldberg.
