| The history of names is so ancient that no | | | | sixteenth century. This practice was adopted |
| one know quite where it began. Oral and | | | | first by the aristocracy and later on by the |
| written history both profess people having | | | | peasants. Bynames came in various types. The |
| names. Earlier names seem to have some sort | | | | patronymic referred to the father, a |
| of meaning, usually descriptive. In contrast, | | | | matronymic referred to the mother, a locative |
| today's names are usually given based upon | | | | or toponymic indicated where a person was |
| their popularity or pleasing sounds.Early in | | | | from,and an epithet described the person in |
| prehistory, descriptive names were used | | | | some way ( such as their occupation, office, |
| continuously. Eventually, a collection of | | | | or status).Patronymics are common in almost |
| names were formed that identified that | | | | all European cultures. For example, a man |
| particular culture. Today, the meanings of | | | | named Ivan whose father's name is Nikolay |
| many names are not known, due to the aging | | | | would be know as Ivan Nikolayevich or "Ivan, |
| history of a name. As time goes on, languages | | | | son of Nikolay". In Gaelic, the prefix "Mac" |
| change, and words that formed the original | | | | is used to form a patronym. An example would |
| name are often unrecognizable.The rise in | | | | be "MacKenzie" - son of Kenneth. The use of |
| Christianity transformed the history of | | | | the matronymic is much less common.Common |
| names. Christians were encouraged to name | | | | occupational names included Baker, Shepherd, |
| their children after saints and martyrs of | | | | Carpenter, and Wright.The Romans adopted |
| the church. Because of this influence, we now | | | | surnames as far back as 2,000 years ago, |
| see names such as Mary, Martha, Joseph, | | | | while other areas of the world were slower to |
| James, Mark, Paul, and John prominent among | | | | begin using surnames. However, by the Middle |
| many cultures. These names were spread by | | | | Ages, they were used regularly, first by the |
| early missionaries throughout Europe.By the | | | | nobility and then by the gentry. Following |
| Middle Ages, Christian names were seen | | | | the fall of the Roman Empire, Ireland was one |
| predominantly. Each culture had its | | | | of the first countries to adopt surnames. |
| collection of names, which were a combination | | | | These Irish surnames are found as early as |
| of native and early Christian names. However, | | | | the tenth century.Today's names are |
| the naming pools continued to evolve. Modern | | | | influenced by celebrities, common popular |
| names often bear little resemblance of their | | | | names, and biblical names. To find out more |
| predecessors. Surprisingly, the early | | | | about the meaning of your name go to our |
| Christian names changed very little in | | | | website.GranMamma is the webmaster at the |
| comparison.Bynames are additional identifiers | | | | Baby Names Box - Where you can explore over |
| used to distinguish two people with the same | | | | 6,000 baby names and their |
| name. From these bynames, surnames were | | | | meanings.Sub-categories include Disney, J.R. |
| developed. Surnames are a comparatively | | | | Tolkien names, Fantasy and Folklore names, |
| recent development. These usually started out | | | | and many names from the literary classics. |
| as being specific to a person and then became | | | | Read articles ranging from parenting and |
| inherited from father to son. This was a | | | | family to home and gardening. Be sure to say |
| common practice between the twelfth and | | | | hi to GranMamma! |