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[[Wales Genealogy|Wales]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]Personal Names | [[Wales Genealogy|Wales]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]Personal Names {{Wales-sidebar}} | ||
Before record keeping began, most people only had a first name. As the population increased, people began adding descriptive information, such as John "the smith," to a person’s name to distinguish him or her from others with the same name. At first, a surname applied only to one person and not to the whole family. | Before record keeping began, most people only had a first name. As the population increased, people began adding descriptive information, such as John "the smith," to a person’s name to distinguish him or her from others with the same name. At first, a surname applied only to one person and not to the whole family. | ||