The father of a man who was identified from pictures after attending the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville has written a heart-wrenching open letter disowning his son.

Other members of his family have also asked the man, who calls himself a fascist, to change his name.

Pearce Tefft, appearing distraught and baffled, wrote that he did not know where his son learned his "twisted worldview".

He wrote in a local paper: "[My son] once joked, 'the thing about us fascists is, it’s not that we don’t believe in freedom of speech. You can say whatever you want. We’ll just throw you in an oven.'

"Peter, you will have to shovel our bodies into the oven, too. Please son, renounce the hate, accept and love all."

Peter Tefft, from Fargo, North Dakota, was identified from photographs of him at the rally which were widely circulated on social media.

He then appeared to confirm he was at the rally, writing on Facebook; "Ultimately, this was a victory for us. Our movement will be emboldened by Charlottesville".