On having a really common last name...

As the title implies, my last name is one of the most common in American history.  Because of this, I usually use my middle name in its place, as it's relatively unique.  However, when I starting playing tournaments and registered for the USCF, I just used my normal first and last name, with the middle initial in-between.  But when I play tournaments, nobody cares about anything but my last name.  On score sheets, my first name and middle initial are entirely ignored - only my last name is written down - which bothers me because (aside from my USCF ID being on there) I could be mistaken for well over a million other US chess players, if anyone were just looking over the results on paper.

Is this a common problem?  What do other players in this situation do to distinguish themselves from others with the same last name?  Is it possible to request a change within the USCF database to disregard my last name and use my middle name in its place?  Has any famous chess player ever done that before?

Anyhow, this is my opinion, a famous chess players as far as I know, except maybe Fisher did not have last names that are relatively common, and to you my opinion, that still need to try to react and still is thy name, is not it nevertheless is the very important to me, warm greeting ........................

Thank you!

Anyone else have any advice?

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Reb, I don't understand the meaning of that picture..

I also have a common surname. I reckon that a long unpronounceable surname is a distinct advantage when playing chess and gives you a certain "status"..

I also recommend developing a unique idiosyncrancy or affectation to increase chess results. Like wearing a hat, developing a recurring annoying habit at the board...I can think of several British GMs off the top of my head: one who is quite short - not something he cultivated, one who wears fancy trousers and one who gets his dinner down his shirt...Talking in a high pitch is another one....Being ordinary in looks and mannerisms just doesn't cut it

Would your last name happen to be Holmes or Holm because my last name is Holm. My family's last name used to be AspHolm but my great grandparents changed it because it sounded like ***hole.

Actually it is a great advantage. How can it be? See here:

1: When people wants to prepare, they look up your last name in their database, and then they shout: "F***, there are 1000 players with this name? Which one is it?"

2: When you are meeting someone in a tournament and one of their friends are called the same as you, they might begin thinking on their friend. And how can you kill (metaphorically speaking) when you are thinking on your nice friend?

3: When going to local tournaments, you will rapidly get a nice nickname by your friends.

3: At local chess tournaments, you will rapidly get a very nice nickname

3: 

Try to prepare against "Joao Costa", "Joao Ribeiro", "Joao Pereira" or "Joao Ferreira" 

my name is "M Adams"

LOL