Chapter
The History and Evolution of Surnames
03:59 - 10:19 (06:20)
Surnames were created for the ruling class to track people and consolidate power. As people started owning properties or had legal things to transfer, surnames became a necessity.
Clips
Surnames are a relatively late invention, originating in Western Europe around the 11th century to differentiate people as population grew.
03:59 - 05:21 (01:22)
Summary
Surnames are a relatively late invention, originating in Western Europe around the 11th century to differentiate people as population grew. While they've been in use in China for about 3,000 years and different naming conventions existed in Rome thousands of years ago, surnames came later to Western Europe.
ChapterThe History and Evolution of Surnames
EpisodeWhat's in a surname?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Surnames were first introduced by ruling classes as a means to keep track of people, prevent intermarriage between different groups, and consolidate power.
05:21 - 07:56 (02:34)
Summary
Surnames were first introduced by ruling classes as a means to keep track of people, prevent intermarriage between different groups, and consolidate power. China's Zhou dynasty was one of the first to introduce surnames for this purpose.
ChapterThe History and Evolution of Surnames
EpisodeWhat's in a surname?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The Doomsday Book was a survey of land and landowners commissioned by William the First in 1085 and 1086, which solidified the tradition of passing down surnames from that point on.
07:56 - 08:58 (01:01)
Summary
The Doomsday Book was a survey of land and landowners commissioned by William the First in 1085 and 1086, which solidified the tradition of passing down surnames from that point on.
ChapterThe History and Evolution of Surnames
EpisodeWhat's in a surname?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The hosts discuss how medieval people had to bear with nicknames throughout their lives and how sarcasm was not a recent invention.
08:58 - 10:19 (01:21)
Summary
The hosts discuss how medieval people had to bear with nicknames throughout their lives and how sarcasm was not a recent invention.