Well I'm African American an alot. Of times it be our grammer or misspelled words on your resume or application an demeanor

The origin of your name is your father.

Very weird and distasteful for lack of better words, but I would just thank your lucky stars you are not working for such a place and keep looking because like everyone here has said, it is very hard to do anything with a discrimination case but especially so when it was just a casual conversation. Best of luck on your job search.

I think it is inappropriate for an interviewer to ask about the origin of someone's name. That said, personal appearance and communication skills are always important for a job candidate.

The EEOC has guidance for employers which very clearly tells them EVERYTHING they ask an applicant is presumed to be used to make a hiring decision, so they should keep to job-related things & NOT ask about irrelevant topics (heritage, children, family structure...)

So yes, what they did was wrong. But unless you have it recorded it's going to be impossible to prove. (I've found several useful covert audio recorders through Amazon.)

https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/practices/index.cfm "Pre-Employment Inquiries (General)

"As a general rule, the information obtained and requested through the pre-employment process should be limited to those essential for determining if a person is qualified for the job; whereas, information regarding race, sex, national origin, age, and religion are irrelevant in such determinations.

"Employers are explicitly prohibited from making pre-offer inquiries about disability.

"Although state and federal equal opportunity laws do not clearly forbid employers from making pre-employment inquiries that relate to, or disproportionately screen out members based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or age, such inquiries may be used as evidence of an employer's intent to discriminate unless the questions asked can be justified by some business purpose.

"Therefore, inquiries about organizations, clubs, societies, and lodges of which an applicant may be a member or any other questions, which may indicate the applicant's race, sex, national origin, disability status, age, religion, color or ancestry if answered, should generally be avoided.

"Similarly, employers should not ask for a photograph of an applicant. If needed for identification purposes, a photograph may be obtained after an offer of employment is made and accepted."

According to an ethical study of work place protocol these questions were not out of line due to you not being a paid employee of the company. However I question elevator, hallway, parking garage banter as out denotes commonality and could look bad to others grinding for a foothold in the company. But if the questions happen after you've signed papers to be part of the organization them it is harassment especially if the supervisor Superior has a hire and fire component. Then they're just twisting a salty knife in you to see if you grimace. #myopinion.

Hi I don't think she was out of line even know it's something you may not be use to I think it's fine be proud of your name and your name do not make up the person that you are stay positive you'll be okay

While very unprofessional, unless it is clearly a protected status, again very CLEARLY, there is little to pursue. If I was approached by an HR person albeit vague on Your statement, I would not want to work for an employer where the HR person in unprofessional, they are the embodiment of a company and that doesn't say much for how the company sets employee or management expectations

Yes indeed..

Work discrimination is not easily proved it's best to just count your losses and move on OK so you got your feelings hurt you'll get over it especially when you don't have a job to pay anyone to fight for you, do what's best and take it to the altar.