Who originated giving people names. Who started it?

Answer 1

God did. Adam and Eve, remember?

Answer 2

Recently they had the answer to the middle names on our news station. Here is a link: http://wcco.com/goodquestion/local_story_180084214.html

As for first names, that was probably from the beginning of language or sooner. Last names started as someone else mentioned, as a distinction between two people with the same first names. A lot of last names started out as where they lived. James of Vienna. Others were by occupation like James the Miller.

Answer 3

As I understand it, you are asking about surnames, so I will address that question.

At first people were just called Mary Joseph's daughter. Then as population grew, there were too many Mary Joseph's daughter's around, so they had to come up with something different. Often people were known as Billy BytheWater which became Biwater or some other conglomeration. Some took their Clan names, e.g., James son of Sean was part of the Buchanon Clan, so he became James Buchanon.

Many are still daughter's and son's of their father's name. A few examples are Josephson, O'Connell, MacCormack. All three cases have male names in their surname. Joseph, Connell, Cormack--all first names.

I'm not sure it began anywhere special. Every country had the same problem, and every country came up with a similar solution.

Answer 4

Surnames came into use in the 2nd mellinia.

They were taken showing a person was the son of someone, their occupation, their habitation etc. William son of John, if he could write, signed his name William son of John. He eventually became William Johnson. There were a lot of guys named John that had sons that became Johnson.

However, William son of John, had a brother named George (both had same father) who was a blacksmith. His brother became George Smith. William and John had another brother (also with same father) that lived on a hill and he became Sam Hill.

In genealogy people don't get too concerned with origin and meaning of surnames.

Answer 5

As for last names: They used them to differentiate between two people with the same first name. John the Tall vs. John the Short. Other times, they describe a person's profession: miller, shoemaker, smith (blacksmith), etc. They also describe where a person lived: high (Hoeh). Sometimes they name the father: Erickson, Nicholson, O' Donnell, Fitzpatrick...

Answer 6

If you beleive in the Bible Adam was the first human to name another person: EVE

Answer 7

The first mother who had to call one of her kids.

Answer 8

The Almighty God

Answer 9

I think Joey did.
But hey - wait - then where did he get his name from...?
Hm...

Answer 10

Do!!!! was it God. my brain hurts does yours.