family name

created by jbm

(thing) by jbm (1.9 y) (print) ? (I like it!) Sat Nov 13 1999 at 10:23:42

In the common case where names are so assigned, the part of a person's name which identifies the family of which the person is a member. In ``Western'' cultures, this is generally the last name. Compare with given name.

(idea) by Protector of Mankind (1.5 wk) (print) ? (I like it!) Wed Aug 09 2000 at 21:59:35

English family names started around the Middle Ages as a way of distinguishing between different classes. As time passed familly names were also based on occupation, such as Forester or Baker, or where the familly lived, such as York. Familly Names also came from they way the familly looked or were patronymic, which is related to ancestry(the male side at least) such as David's son; Davidson.

(idea) by scraimer (10 mon) (print) ? (I like it!) Tue Jul 31 2001 at 14:45:08

Another source of family names was simple human habit. Imagine someone who's come to a country where use of family names is rare. He'll meet someone, and ask for their name. They might reply with any of the following:

I am Rahim iben Saiid iben Naruk iben Ahmed iben ... (Ad Nauseam)

My name is Ander Mac Reng

From the family Pai-Je, I am Chi-Lo.

I am Bull-Neck from the tribe of the Bear All of which might be shortend by our hypothetical traveler to something like:

Rahim iben-Saiid

Ander MacReng

Pai-Je Chi-Lo

Bull-Neck Bear

Now, assuming the person he addressed liked the name he gave them (instead of lopping his head off for the insult) - this might become what they called themselves. I doubt this happened, but it's all too possible, seen as how lazy people were in obeying the customs of others.

printable version
chaos

Better solutions for surname descent	Longest names	Patronymic	surname
last name	Why Koreans choose seemingly random email addresses	Valentine	Names have power
odchestvo	teknonym	koseki	maiden name
mononym	matronym	a copy of our home game	Irish Gaelic family names
nominative determinism	name	Murakami Haruki	given name
Kuruci	Ellen	The Spring Pond Beavers	George W. Bush's 2005 State of the Union Address

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