In genealogy we usually concentrate on surnames since they are the most important way of identifying people who are related. A surname is usually inherited and, while it may be changed, some form of it is usually retained. Given names are more important in a way because they represent a voluntary choice by the parents or, sometimes, by an individual. A name is usually not given lightly. It represents thought and feelings and can be significant .
Resource on the internet for Guide to Names & Naming Practices
https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf
Behind the name: Meaning of Indian surnames and their origin
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
So wrote Shakespeare. It is obvious he was never in India, for here, there is a whole lot hidden in just a name…
In India, Hindu names are usually based on the child’s raashis, which is determined by the position of the planets at the date and time of birth. The resulting names are often shortened by family and friends.
As in most countries, surnames in India are mostly derived from the place we belong to, or the profession of our ancestors. The only distinctive ones are those where the surname is actually the name of a caste – a concept unique to the subcontinent!
The surname is something we are born with, and have no choice over, so it would be more interesting to talk about the part that we do choose – the first name! Aptly called, this is the first thing we think of when a child is born. In fact, we even decide the name before the child is born. As with everything in India, there are many ‘traditional’ ways of choosing the name of a child.
The most common system is that of using ‘family names’. This means that the first male child is named after the paternal grandfather, the second male child after the maternal grandfather, and so on, with the girls being named after their paternal and maternal grandmothers. Imagine the confusion this causes – with many children having the same name! In addition to this, in southern India a father’s name is used as a surname – what ensues is total chaos!
The other system involves the horoscope – mapping the planetary positions at the time of birth. (The horoscope is an inevitable part of Indian life, and it shows up in every possible and impossible situation!). In the northern parts of the country, every star is associated with a letter of the alphabet, and a kid’s name begins with the alphabet of the constellation he/she is born under.
That’s not all. The most common system is that of naming a kid after a God/Goddess. Sounds simple? Yes, but just till you realize that in Indian mythology, there are 33 crore (1crore = 10 million) gods and goddesses!
Another interesting system is that of multiple names – the first and most important name in any family is the ‘family name’ – the name of an elder / ancestor. But then, it is not considered appropriate for the younger members to take the name of an elder, so another name is chosen for use in day-to-day life. And then there are pet names – or short names that we earn as we grow!
Surnames originated early in history for many reasons. Surnames acted as an identifier and drew attention. It also represented people’s ethnic background, upbringing and ones individuality. However, today surnames have merely become an identifier and nothing more. While some people still take special pride in their surnames owing to distinguished ancestors, but again the issue isn't the surname but rather what some people who bore it did with their lives. There is another set of people who hate their surnames because they’re slightly embarrassing. These people tend to change them when they can. But otherwise, a surname is probably something that most people don't think about very often, or not in a focused way. It's simply a fact of life, like your social security number.
Names given to newborn children signify
1. The season or weather when they are born like Vasant, Barkha.
2. Signify the sun, moon or stars like-Bhaskar, Surya, Chandra,Chand, Shashi, Rakesh, Ashwini
3. Names of Flowers and Fruits or honey : Parijat, Aparajita, Dahlia, Madhu
4. Noble Qualities one would like the children to have: Garima, Shaurya, Shreya, Sampoorna
5. Names of valorous heroes from the Ramayana & Mahabharata: Ram, Arjun, Sita, Lakshman
British Culture: Naming Patterns
You will often see the same names used over and over again in families. While certain names are popular in different areas in different times in history, the repetition could represent a pattern. Many cultures believe in honoring their elders and do so by naming children after them. Angus Baxter in "In Search of Your British and Irish Roots" describes a pattern that was popular in England in the 1700-1875 period:
- The first son was named after the father's father
- The second son was named after the mother's father
- The third son was named after the father
- The fourth son was named after the father's eldest brother
- The first daughter after the mother's mother
- The second daughter after the father's mother
- The third daughter after the mother
- The fourth daughter after the mother's eldest sister
If this pattern would result in a duplication of names -- i.e., both grandfathers had the same name -- then they would skip to the next one on the list. Similar patterns have been suggested for other nationalities.
Africa's naming traditions:
Traditional African names often have unique stories behind them. From the day or time a baby is born to the circumstances surrounding the birth, several factors influence the names parents choose for their children.
Events surrounding birth
Among several ethnic groups, picking out names can be influenced by positive or negative circumstances the family finds themselves in around the time a child is born. Often, such names are complete sentences
Ayodele (joy has come home) is a unisex name for a baby whose birth brought happiness to their Yoruba parents in Nigeria.
Yetunde or Yewande (mother has come back) is a Yoruba name given to a girl whose grandmother or other female relative died before she was born.
Adetokunbo (crown/wealth has come back home) is a unisex Yoruba name often given to a child born abroad.
Ajuji (born on a rubbish heap) is a Hausa name given to a baby after those born before it failed to survive. It is believed that giving the child a "terrible" name will deceive evil spirits into thinking the child is not loved and as a result, allow it to live.
Kiptanui and Cheptanui are often given to babies whose mothers may have suffered extreme difficulties during childbirth among the Kalenjin ethnic group in Africa.
Misrak (east) was given to an Ethiopian baby girl whose father was in Japan at the time she was born.
Lindiwe (we have waited) is an isiZulu name often given to a baby girl after a long line of boys.
Emotional warnings
Some names, especially in Zimbabwe, reflect the mood or circumstance of the family at the time of birth. Some of them serve as warnings or rebukes.
Nhamo means misfortune
Maidei asks the question "What did you want?"
Manyara tells someone "You have been humbled"
Yananiso means bringing the family together
Sometimes these names are translated into English, where they can sound quite surprising, for example: Airforce; Kissmore; Brilliant; Psychology; Hatred; Nomatter; Jealous; Furious or Hardlife.
Celebrity culture
The Luos in Kenya are known for adopting famous names for their children. Quite a number of mothers named their baby boys Obama in 2008 after Barack Obama, the son of a Luo man, was elected US president. And when he visited the country in 2015, one mother reportedly named her child Airforceone.
Churchill and Clinton are also quite popular in Luo-speaking areas of western Kenya.
One couple have already had to defend their decision to name their son Donald Trump Otieno. The parents told the Nairobi News they chose to name their child after the US president-elect because they liked the billionaire's principles.
But naming children after people in the news is certainly not unique to the Luos, or Kenya.
Order of birth
In many African cultures, there is no need for someone to explain whether they are the eldest or youngest of their siblings. This is because their names can reveal that much. This is especially true of twins.
Day and night
Among some groups in eastern and southern Africa, certain names are selected depending on the time of the day or season a child is born.
Meet the ancestors
Respected elders of the family may be dead but they continue to live on through their grandchildren.
Parents often name babies after senior members of the clan whether dead or alive.
But it is considered disrespectful to casually shout or call out the name of a senior family member that has been given to a child, so instead it is common to hear a child affectionately called Ouma (grandma) or Oupa (grandpa) in southern Africa.
Rude nicknames
Most people have three names - the ones they were given, as well as that of their father and grandfather. But many also have nicknames, which are so common that they can find their way onto official ID cards.
These nicknames often pick on the negative physical traits of the bearer, if he is male. Some common nicknames for men include Langare (limpy), Coryaan (handicapped), Lugay (one leg) or Genay (missing tooth).
Women, however, mostly get flattering nicknames like Lul (diamond), Macanay (sweet), Cod Weyne (rich voiced), Dahable (golden) and Indho Daraleey (gazelle eyes).
Many people in Africa have several names - for example a name from their ethnic group, a Christian or Muslim name, as well as a name depending on the day, or time of day they were born.
In another tradition, it is not uncommon for each parent and grandparent to contribute at least one name. The child ends up with several names - each telling its own special story.
