When did we evolve enough to start giving people first names?
2007-05-11 10:16:02 · 3 answers · asked by JBWPLGCSE 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I'm no expert on this and I can only offer a western viewpoint, but after a quick conference with my pals, we've decided that the forename has always been used (eg: Jason the Carpenter, John, Son of Eric). As people became more mobile, this naming convention became inefficient and confusing as potentially more sons of (different) Erics appeared at a location.
It seems activities (particularly trades and tribal/clan names) were adopted as surnames. Some names still incorporate 'son of' , for example McDonald (son of Donald), DeCourcey (from Courcey) etc...
Why not look up some sites on the internet about geneology
2007-05-11 12:15:22 · answer #1 · answered by cornflake#1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People have allways had first names or a sound that represented them. That is how you identify a person. Last names were done later to reconize a family or clan
2007-05-11 10:37:09 · answer #2 · answered by Big Daddy R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they started with the first people...Adam and Eve. Last names came second.
2007-05-11 10:34:19 · answer #3 · answered by Ireland1222 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋