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=== History of Names in Thailand === | === History of Names in Thailand === | ||
Surnames or family names are relatively new innovation for the Thai people. For centuries, Thai people referred to the given names of their parents, or their place of residence in order to identify themselves | Surnames or family names are relatively a new innovation for the Thai people. For centuries, Thai people referred to the given names of their parents, or their place of residence along with their given name in order to identify themselves.<br> | ||
Some surnames were granted to a person if they were in charge of a government agency | Some surnames were granted to a person if they were in charge of a government agency. Some of these individuals after working for the government received a new caste name. Other family members would then request a change in their surname to match the new case name of their relative.<br> | ||
In 1913, the Surname Act was instituted legally requiring surnames in conjunction with the birth, marriage, and death registration that was instituted in 1912. Thai names now follow a more “western” pattern of surnames/family names, etc.<br> | In 1913, the Surname Act was instituted legally requiring surnames in conjunction with the birth, marriage, and death registration that was instituted in 1912. Thai names now follow a more “western” pattern of surnames/family names, etc.<br> | ||
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