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→= Patronymic Names
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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. | ||
=== Patronymic Names == | === Patronymic Names === | ||
Patronymic surnames are based on the father’s given name. Generally, '''ap''' or '''ab''' was added between the child’s name and the father’s name. For example, David ab Owen is David "son of" Owen. For a woman’s name, the word '''ferch''' or '''verch''' (often abbreviated to '''vch'''), meaning "daughter of", was used. There were many exceptions to this: | Patronymic surnames are based on the father’s given name. Generally, '''ap''' or '''ab''' was added between the child’s name and the father’s name. For example, David ab Owen is David "son of" Owen. For a woman’s name, the word '''ferch''' or '''verch''' (often abbreviated to '''vch'''), meaning "daughter of", was used. There were many exceptions to this: | ||
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In Wales, if the patronymic naming system was used, the surname of the child was usually based upon the father’s FIRST name. The following chart shows only males (John EVANS, his sons, and his grandsons). Notice the names highlighted in red showing that the FIRST name of John EVANS was used by his sons as their SURNAME. (Thomas JOHNS, for example, means Thomas . . . the son of. . . John) In our example, by the time John EVANS has 20 grandsons, the grandsons have five different surnames. Today, these grandsons (cousins to each other) would all have the same surname (EVANS). | In Wales, if the patronymic naming system was used, the surname of the child was usually based upon the father’s FIRST name. The following chart shows only males (John EVANS, his sons, and his grandsons). Notice the names highlighted in red showing that the FIRST name of John EVANS was used by his sons as their SURNAME. (Thomas JOHNS, for example, means Thomas . . . the son of. . . John) In our example, by the time John EVANS has 20 grandsons, the grandsons have five different surnames. Today, these grandsons (cousins to each other) would all have the same surname (EVANS). | ||
[[Image:Patronymics illustration.jpg|center|Patronymics illustration.jpg]] | [[Image:Patronymics illustration.jpg|center|Patronymics illustration.jpg]] | ||
== Solving common name problems == | == Solving common name problems == | ||