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Further
Reading ...
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Too Late?
Too Late? Why is it that we tend to value relationships more once they've ended? Is it simply human nature to take for granted the smile of someone close, the friendship of a relative, the concern of a neighbour? In the moment, we think that these...
Cherokee Genealogy
For those of Native American descent, one of the easiest genealogies to trace is Cherokee genealogy. Thanks to the Cherokee being one of the most Anglicized of the nations, they put down much more of their history in writing than many other nations....
First Communion Trends for Girls
She has taken her Catechism and has prepared for her First Holy Communion. This is a big step in her life and a memory you will cherish forever. She's growing up!
Selecting the right dress and accessories for her First Communion is an exciting...
How to Make Your Printable Bridal and Baby Shower Games
Bridal and baby shower games are a great way to spice up your shower party.
Many games can be purchased affordably, but you can also make your own games
with some effort. Here are some ideas for making your own baby shower or bridal
shower...
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A History of Names
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Written By:
GranMamma
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The history of names is so ancient that no one know quite where it began. Oral and written history both profess people having names. Earlier names seem to have some sort of meaning, usually descriptive. In contrast, today’s names are usually given based upon their popularity or pleasing sounds.
Early in prehistory, descriptive names were used continuously. Eventually, a collection of names were formed that identified that particular culture. Today, the meanings of many names are not known, due to the aging history of a name. As time goes on, languages change, and words that formed the original name are often unrecognizable.
The rise in Christianity transformed the history of names. Christians were encouraged to name their children after saints and martyrs of the church. Because of this influence, we now see names such as Mary, Martha, Joseph, James, Mark, Paul, and John prominent among many cultures. These names were spread by early missionaries throughout Europe.
By the Middle Ages, Christian names were seen predominantly. Each culture had its collection of names, which were a combination of native and early Christian names. However, the naming pools continued to evolve. Modern names often bear little resemblance of their predecessors. Surprisingly, the early Christian names changed very little in comparison.
Bynames are additional identifiers used to distinguish two people with the same name. From these bynames, surnames were developed. Surnames are a comparatively recent development. These usually started out as being specific to a person and then became inherited from father to son. This was a common practice between the twelfth and sixteenth - continued below ...
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continued ...
century. This practice was adopted first by the aristocracy and later on by the peasants. Bynames came in various types. The patronymic referred to the father, a matronymic referred to the mother, a locative or toponymic indicated where a person was from,and an epithet described the person in some way ( such as their occupation, office, or status).
Patronymics are common in almost all European cultures. For example, a man named Ivan whose father’s name is Nikolay would be know as Ivan Nikolayevich or “Ivan, son of Nikolay”. In Gaelic, the prefix “Mac” is used to form a patronym. An example would be “MacKenzie” - son of Kenneth. The use of the matronymic is much less common.
Common occupational names included Baker, Shepherd, Carpenter, and Wright.
The Romans adopted surnames as far back as 2,000 years ago, while other areas of the world were slower to begin using surnames. However, by the Middle Ages, they were used regularly, first by the nobility and then by the gentry. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Ireland was one of the first countries to adopt surnames. These Irish surnames are found as early as the tenth century.
Today's names are influenced by celebrities, common popular names, and biblical names.
About the Author
GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Sub-categories include Disney ,J.R. Tolkien names, Fantasy and Folklore names, and many names from the literary classics. Read articles ranging from parenting and family to home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!
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| _Additional Resources ... |
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Top 5 Wedding Favors and Why
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False campaigns More than 50 percent of Americans and Canadians are overweight or obese. More than a half the advertising campaigns for diet pills and dietary supplements are intentionally false or fail to reveal the truth, according to the...
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