Hi Yefim, As I've written you privately. I rely greatly on your knowledge and and your desire to help. It has opened up many doors to me over the years. It's laughable how much stock people place in the variations of given names. Often English-speakers will choose an Anglicized name that begins with the same letter (i.e. Moishe becoming Morris), but in many cases there's no rhyme or reason. When Chana becomes Marilyn, it's apparent that somebody just chose a name that they liked,
Be well, Molly Arost Staub
M. A. in Journalism

RESEARCHING
Bessarabia:
Arost/Harast/Kharest 
Shtoffman

Ukraine and England:
Berenson (many variations)
Groffman/Graffman
Gershman

And all those name in Philadelphia and South America