did the people in past have surnames?

Question

if u know please let me know

Answer 1

Hey sportyish...,

Yes, they did, here is a blurb on how this came about:

A family name, surname, or last name is the part of a person's name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. Until the 12th century, most people throughout the world did not use or have a family name, and they were called by the single name they had (which was called a "first" or "given name" only after family names came into use). One of the most accepted theories for the origin of surname use attributes their introduction to the Normans and the Domesday Book of 1086. The use of surnames gradually became an accepted practice throughout Western Europe in the Middle Ages. In parts of the world, family names did not appear in common use until the 17th to 19th centuries, and they are unused in some cultures even today.

Answer 2

About Surnames


A family name, surname, or last name is the part of a person's name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. Until the 12th century, most people throughout the world did not use or have a family name, and they were called by the single name they had (which was called a "first" or "given name" only after family names came into use). One of the most accepted theories for the origin of surname use attributes their introduction to the Normans and the Domesday Book of 1086. The use of surnames gradually became an accepted practice throughout Western Europe in the Middle Ages. In parts of the world, family names did not appear in common use until the 17th to 19th centuries, and they are unused in some cultures even today.

In most cultures around the world outside of Europe, North America and South America, Australia, and New Zealand, the family name is typically spoken and written first when referring to an individual. This order is often erroneously called the Eastern order because Europeans are most familiar with the examples of China, Japan and Korea. In most Western cultures, the family name is today given last, giving rise to the term last name for family name. However, even in some Western countries, the family name is used last only in writing and formal speech, and the inverse order is still very common in normal everyday speech. In addition, many if not most Western cultures originally used the family name first even in writing and formal speech. So in fact, the majority of the world's cultures still use the family name first.

In countries that use family names, these are most often used to refer to a stranger in a formal setting, often with the use of a title such as Mr. or Mrs. (or equivalent). The first name, given name, or personal name is the one used by friends, family, and other intimates.

Answer 3

The first to use surnames were the Chinese in 2852 BC by decree of Emperor Fushi. It wasn't until the 12th century that the use of surnames became more generally used. Many were based on the occupation-Carpenter, Cook, Miller, Taylor, Smith: others on where they lived-Overhill, Brook: and others were patronymic-Jackson, Williamson. Others related to the persons charistics-Small, Short, Little, Longfellow, Large, Fox, White, or Redd.

Answer 4

I guess it depends on how far back you go. For the last several hundred years, yes, and, depending on how you define it, it could be said to go back a few thousand years. The surname used to be where you were from. (Jesus of Nazareth). In some cultures it was your trade. (Christopher Baker, a baker) At some point around the 12th century it became a family name that was passed on to the children. In some cultures it was even your fathers name. (Leif Ericson) Eric was Leif's father in this case. At some point surnames had to be used to differentiate between people with the same names.

Answer 5

at first in history people did not have surname they had the name and for further identification they would say their fathers names such as rhys son of lee. After a while though some people adopted their job titles as their surnames e.g. instead of saying greegory the baker people would say gregory baker. and so different jobs and different variations of jobs have become the surnames that we have today after over the years changing slightly

Answer 6

Ain't it wonderful?
Apparently, Adam and Eve begat their children and then... read the Old Testament and, past the begats and begorrahs, it must be obvious that Irish people created the first surnames...
See, 'Mc'-whatever is exactly that: it is not going to be 'Mac'.
So... surnames, in their infancy, 'laid claim' to the familial connections which existed outside the matriarchal bloodline. In other words, surnames are a male construct.
Hmmm...

Paul

Answer 7

Surname is a family name. This matter follows centuries of tradition.

Answer 8

Yes and no. In some places people were known by thier first names followed by their city of origin. John of Salisbury. Or they may have been known by their occupation. John the Tailor. Or they might have been know by their father's name. John John's Son which in many cases evolved into surnames we still use today. John Salisbury, John Taylor, and John Johnson.

Answer 9

Depends how far into the past you mean. In England through the Middle Ages it gradually became common for people's home village or occupation to be added to their name eg, Jack of Newbury, Adam Fletcher.

Romans had personal, family and tribal names.

Answer 10

Only those who lived in or around Big Sur.
Just kidding...
In ancient times, no. A lot of modern surnames came from the type of work one's ancestors were engaged in, such as:
Baker
Carpenter
Wainwright
Cooper
Ho
Smith (smithy or blacksmith)
Shoemaker
Cook
Paster (pastry chef)
Taylor (tailor)
Okay, I threw Ho in there just to be funny-with apologies to Don of "Tiny Bubbles" fame.


M