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Add fifth (minor) source for Italian surnames (surnames assigned to abandoned infants).
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Before record keeping began, most people had only one name, such as Giovanni (John). As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. Giovanni became Giovanni Fabro (John the smith), Giovanni di Matteo (John son of Matthew), Giovanni Basso (John the short), or Giovanni di Napoli (John from Napoli). At first, surnames applied only to one person and not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names were passed from father to child. | Before record keeping began, most people had only one name, such as Giovanni (John). As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. Giovanni became Giovanni Fabro (John the smith), Giovanni di Matteo (John son of Matthew), Giovanni Basso (John the short), or Giovanni di Napoli (John from Napoli). At first, surnames applied only to one person and not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names were passed from father to child. | ||
Surnames developed from four major sources: | Surnames developed from four major sources and one minor one. The four major ones are surnames based on patronymics, occpations, descriptions or nicknames, and geography; the one minor one is surnames assigned to abandoned children: | ||
=== Patronymic === | === Patronymic === | ||
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These surnames are based on a person’s residence, such as Maria Pugliese (Mary from Puglia). | These surnames are based on a person’s residence, such as Maria Pugliese (Mary from Puglia). | ||
=== Surnames for Abandoned Children === | |||
Abandoned infants had surnames assigned to them by the foundling homes where they were abandoned and often a new surname may be assigned to the infant when placed with a wet nurse in a foster family. For more on this, [http://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Italian_Infant_Abandonment see here]. | |||
== Surnames - nobility and wealthy land owners == | == Surnames - nobility and wealthy land owners == | ||