JD Vance has changed his name several times. Here’s why

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. He also described a “revolving door of father figures.” After the divorce, Vance took the name of his mother’s third husband Bob Hamel, and his middle name was changed to David – that of one of his uncles – preserving his childhood nickname JD. After his parents’ divorce, Vance took the name of his mother’s third husband Bob Hamel, becoming James David Hamel However, Vance did not buy his mother’s story that he was named for his uncle David. Vance carried the name James David Hamel for over two decades, including during his time in the US military “Yeah, my legal father’s last name is Hamel. Of all the things that I hated about my childhood, nothing compared to the revolving door of father figures.” He decided to change his name again, to Vance — the last name of his beloved “Mamaw.” Vance’s mother suffered with substance abuse and addiction, and was allegedly abusive to her children, leading to him being taken in and brought up by James and Bonnie Vance.