![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/i-grew-up-in-jewish-area-with-surname-hittler/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2_HITLET-MAIN.jpg&description=John Hittler, a grandchild of three Irish immigrants and one German one on his dad's side, lived in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood of Detroit, Michigan, all while looking like 'a Nazi poster child' A man who shares a surname with Adolf Hitler has spoken out about what it was like growing up in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood and why he still refuses to change his name. John Hittler, who now lives in California with his wife working as a professional coach, comes from generations of immigrants who simply refused to change their name, despite the terrible association with one of history's most evil figures. With three Irish grandparents, things could have turned out differently but his paternal grandfather passed the name Hittler down. The man, who is called Hittler, told The Mirror: "My grandparents were tough. They came here, they lived through the Depression and World War Two. They had no interest in changing their name. It was just a nonstarter for them to change it. Their theory was people will treat us based on our character, not based on our name, which is true to a point. "But there's enough people that will punch you in the mouth too. There was a fair bit of that when I was growing up too." For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US When he was still young his parents inadvertently bought a house in a majority Jewish neighbourhood, leaving the young John Hittler growing up in a difficult situation. Especially thanks to his 'Aryan' looks. He sarcastically explained: "As it turns out, like 75 per cent Jewish. Oh, thanks Mom and Dad. So we are the Hittlers in the Jewish neighbourhood for the rest of our life. Yeah, this is great. "So now when you're gonna play soccer or baseball, or anything in the community, you're gonna learn really fast how to get along with people, or you're gonna learn how to fight. In our case, it was both." John grew up with eight siblings and they often ended up at the wrong end of){kind=link}
John Hittler, a grandchild of three Irish immigrants and one German one on his dad’s side, lived in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood of Detroit, Michigan, all while looking like ‘a Nazi poster child’
A man who shares a surname with Adolf Hitler has spoken out about what it was like growing up in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood and why he still refuses to change his name.
John Hittler, who now lives in California with his wife working as a professional coach, comes from generations of immigrants who simply refused to change their name, despite the terrible association with one of history’s most evil figures. With three Irish grandparents, things could have turned out differently but his paternal grandfather passed the name Hittler down.
The man, who is called Hittler, told The Mirror: “My grandparents were tough. They came here, they lived through the Depression and World War Two. They had no interest in changing their name. It was just a nonstarter for them to change it. Their theory was people will treat us based on our character, not based on our name, which is true to a point.
“But there’s enough people that will punch you in the mouth too. There was a fair bit of that when I was growing up too.”