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==Surnames== | ==Surnames== | ||
===Surnames Historical Development=== | |||
*Before record keeping began, most people had only one name, such as 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. John became John the smith, John the son of Matthew, John the short, or John from Amsterdam. | |||
*At first surnames applied only to one person, not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names became hereditary and were passed on from generation to generation. | |||
*Surnames developed from several sources. For example: | |||
**'''Occupational''' (based on a person’s trade) | |||
**'''Geographical''' (based on a person’s residence) | |||
**'''Patronymic''' (based on a person’s father’s name) | |||
**'''Descriptive''' or '''nickname''' (such as Joy or Child) | |||
*The '''nobility and wealthy land owners''' were the first to begin using surnames. | |||
*'''Merchants and townspeople''' then adopted the custom, as did the '''rural population'''. This process took two or three centuries. | |||
=== Name adoption records (''Naamsaanneming registers'') === | === Name adoption records (''Naamsaanneming registers'') === | ||
Patronymic surnames were common in several provinces prior to 1811. After that all citizens were required to adopt a fixed surname. '''''Naamsaanneming registers''''' are used to determine prior naming patterns. | Patronymic surnames were common in several provinces prior to 1811. After that all citizens were required to adopt a fixed surname. '''''Naamsaanneming registers''''' are used to determine prior naming patterns. | ||
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*Population coverage: 60%. | *Population coverage: 60%. | ||
*Reliability: Very good.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: The Netherlands,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-1998.</ref> | *Reliability: Very good.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: The Netherlands,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-1998.</ref> | ||
==Given Names== | ==Given Names== | ||