A Genealogy Can Reveal What Is In a Surname

Whether your name is Ed or Engelbert, our first name is the sweetest sound that we can hear during our lifetimes. To test this theory, if you seem to be losing someone’s attention while talking with them, simply address the person by his first name. The likelihood that the person will suddenly look up or make eye contact, is extremely high. When one is creating a geneology to trace the origin and history of one’s family, it is likely that one will consequentially learn the history and origin of one’s family name.

Fascinating First Names

When creating a genealogy, we must ask: What is in a name? Similarly, parents of newborns often do extensive research before naming their newborn. For example, Samantha is an English name. “Sam” originates from the male Jewish name Samuel, which means “God heard.” On the other hand, the Greek suffix “antha” has the meaning, “flower.” Though sometimes more difficult to determine, a geneology can also help one to determine the history and origin of a family name.  

Stunning Surnames

The background of last names can be as fascinating as those of first names. For instance, Smith, and its alternate spellings Schmidt, Smyth, and Smythe, is one of the most basic and common surnames in the US. Smith originated from “smitan” in the Anglo-Saxon language. The word means to “smite” or “hit.” The name Smith is based on a name related to someone who performs work on metal. In fact, the smith or blacksmith became one of the first jobs that demanded particular skills. This occupation’s universality has made Smith the most common last name on Earth, and the frequent subject of the forming of a genealogy.  

Given Names, Surnames And Patronymics

Throughout the world, different methods and factors determine a person’s surname. During Medieval times, the name of a boy’s father often became the former’s last name.  However, today in Spain and other countries where Spanish is spoken, people often have 2 surnames. Being aware of this practice could assist creating a geneology for Latinos. The first name originates from the father’s paternal surname, while the second is taken from the mother’s paternal surname. On the other hand, in Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese culture, a person’s surname is positioned before to the name that the parents given. Lastly, a complete Russian name includes the given name, a patronymic, and a surname. A patronymic is typically created by adding a suffix to the father’s name.

Though a geneology is typically created to learn of one’s family members, other information can simultaneously be acquired. For example, the meaning of a family’s surname can be imbedded in the origin and the history of the family itself.