did one day people just decide they wanted a last name? if so how long ago?

Answer 1

A family name, surname, or last name is the part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world. Each culture has its own rules as to how these names are applied and used.

In many cultures (notably most European, North American, and South American countries) the family name is typically the last part of a person's name. In many other cultures, however, the family name comes first. The latter is often called the Eastern order because Europeans are most familiar with the examples of China, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. Because the family name is normally given last in English-speaking societies, the term last name is commonly used for family name.

Family names are most often used to refer to a stranger or in a formal setting, and are often used with a title or honorific such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., and so on. Generally the given name, Christian name, first name, forename, or personal name is the one used by friends, family, and other intimates to address an individual. It may also be used by someone who is in some way senior to the person being addressed.

Traditional Arab naming practices indicate familial relationships, but names indicating these relationships are not inherited in the manner that the term family name implies.

Answer 2

Last names just evolved out of necessity. The was especially true once the written word and literacy became common. In some cultures when a man had a son they gave a second name to specify who's son he was. Famous example:Erick the Red and Leif Erickson. That is where a lot of "son" names came from like Johnson, Donaldson, Robertson etc. Then there were clans. Everyone accepted into a particular clan was given the clans name.

It is one of those things that just started being adopted world wide out of necessity and because it made sense. The same reason started the tradition of wives changing their last name to that of their husbands.

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Answer 3

People during the the time of the Roman Empire identified themselves by their birth place, such as Jesus of Nazareth.

The Romans eventually started using more definitive names as the population increased. You can read more about the history at the link in my source list.

In some locations people used their professions as their last names. This is why there are so many Smiths. There were a lot of blacksmiths and they just went by smith.

Take care,
Troy

Answer 4

Ever heard of a Viking named Erik the Red? His son was Lief Erikson, meaning how it sounds, Lief was Erik's son. Last names were used like tribe identifiers, to tell people whom you belong. In some countries, other families will not allow their family name mix with certain others. McGregors and Macpherson's from scottland being two. So yes, last names have a reason and yes they have been about for some time.

Answer 5

Ken Follett wrote a book about 20 years ago called "Pillars of the Earth." One of the main characters was a man named Tom--Tom Builder, because he built houses. Last names generally came into being in order to identify somebody. There might have also been a Tom who lived next to some woods and his name might have been Tom Woods or Tom Forrest in order to distinguish him from Tom Builder!!! Last names were common in European countries centuries ago.

Answer 6

Last names were to identify a family, so if anything, last names came first. Then they give first names to identify each person.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Probly when there were too many people with the same first name.

Answer 9

"Ladybug" is right....and of course these come to mind:

Tom MIller (Town Miller)

Tom Smith (Blacksmith)

Tom Baker (hmmm, let me guess! )

etc, etc.....very interesting....we also have the "sen's" and "son's", meaning "son of", such as Erikson, Anderson, Andersen, Petersen....etc........