Where do Last Names come from?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Who Smarted?" Episode - Where do Last Names Come From?

Release Date: January 15, 2025

---

Introduction to the Episode

In the episode titled "Where do Last Names Come From?" from the educational podcast "Who Smarted?", hosts Blurt Filbert and the Trusty Narrator delve into the fascinating origins and variations of last names across different cultures and eras. The episode seamlessly blends humor with informative content, making complex topics accessible and engaging for young listeners and their families.

---

Exploring the Origins of Last Names

Bob Smith, an onomastician (a specialist in the study of names), joins the hosts to unravel the mysteries behind last names. He categorizes last names into five primary types, providing historical contexts and examples for each:

1. Occupational Surnames

   Bob explains that many last names originated from the occupations of ancestors. For instance, his own last name, Smith, derives from the blacksmiths or metalworkers in his lineage. The Trusty Narrator engages listeners with a quiz segment:

   "Which of these names is not an occupational surname? A. Farmer, B. King, or C. Eisenhower? If you said King, you're right." (06:39)

2. Cognominal Names

   These surnames stem from nicknames. Bob uses King as an example, suggesting it could have been assigned to someone who behaved regally or played a king in medieval plays:

   "A cognominal name is a name that comes from a nickname." (08:07)

3. Toponymic Surnames

   Derived from geographical locations, these names indicate where a family originated. Examples include Evelyn England or Maria Monte (Italian for "mountain"):

   "Toponymic surnames are location names like Evelyn England or Maria Monte." (09:08)

4. Ornamental Surnames

   Often inspired by nature or descriptions from noble coats of arms, such as Rosencrans (meaning "rose wreath") or Gallo (Italian for "rooster"):

   "Ornamental surnames sometimes come from descriptions of a noble house's coat of arms." (09:32)

5. Patronymic and Metronymic Names

   These are derived from the names of fathers or mothers. For example, Peterson signifies "son of Peter":

   "Patronymic names are the oldest and most common type of last name." (10:14)

---

The Evolution and Adoption of Last Names

Bob Smith elaborates on how last names became standardized. Initially, individuals didn't have fixed last names. In cases where multiple people shared the same first name, patronymic naming was employed by adding the father's name, such as Milton Martinson (son of Martin). This system led to constantly changing surnames with each generation.

By the 11th century, practical administrative needs, such as those arising from William the Conqueror's Doomsday Book (completed in 1086), necessitated the adoption of fixed last names to keep accurate records for taxation and land ownership. By the 1400s, most English people had established last names, a trend that spread globally as monarchs and governments sought efficient ways to organize populations.

"Around the 1600s, family names were adopted. No more 'son' stuff every time a guy has a kid, but rather one last name that's the same for everyone in the family." (13:42)

---

Cultural Variations in Naming Conventions

The episode highlights diverse naming practices across different cultures:

1. Spanish Naming Traditions

   In Spanish-speaking countries, children inherit both parents' surnames in a specific order. For example, a daughter named Joanna Geraldine Diaz Vergara combines elements from her parents' names:

   "In Spanish, a child takes both their last names and has a combined name... Joanna Geraldine Diaz Vergara." (18:05)

2. Eastern Naming Order

   Unlike the Western tradition of placing the first name before the last name, some Eastern cultures (e.g., China, Korea, Japan) use the Eastern naming order, placing the family name first:

   "In some cultures your last name is actually written before your first name. This is called the Eastern naming order." (18:42)

3. Gender-Based Surnames in Eastern Europe

   In countries like Poland, surnames can change based on gender. A male surname Perowski becomes Perowska for a female sibling:

   "In some Eastern European countries, your last name depends on whether you're a boy or a girl." (18:42)

4. Icelandic Naming Practices

   In Iceland, first names are more prominent, and individuals are often addressed by their first names even in professional settings:

   "In Iceland, first names carry more weight than last names. So much so that you call your teacher and doctor by their first names." (19:32)

---

Legal Restrictions on Names

Bob Smith shares intriguing facts about legal name restrictions in various countries:

• United States: It's illegal to name a child King, Queen, or Santa Claus.

  "In the United States, it's illegal to name your child King, Queen, or Santa Claus." (20:17)

• Japan: Naming a person Devil is prohibited.

  "In Japan, you can't name a person Devil." (20:23)

• Malaysia: The name Snake is banned.

  "In Malaysia, you can't name a person Snake." (20:27)

Additionally, the Trusty Narrator presents a true or false question about Portugal's naming laws:

"True or false? In Portugal, it is illegal to name your kid Tom. If you said true, you're right." (20:57)

---

Popularity of Names Globally

The episode concludes with insights into the most popular names worldwide:

• Muhammad: Holds the title of the most popular first name globally, with over 133 million people bearing the name.

  "According to a 2023 survey, the most popular first name in the world is Muhammad, with over 133 million people with that name." (21:04)

• Maria: Ranks second, followed by Nushi.

The Trusty Narrator humorously acknowledges the ubiquity of such names:

"But I can only think of one trusty narrator." (21:18)

---

Conclusion

“Who Smarted?” effectively transforms a seemingly mundane topic—last names—into an engaging exploration of history, culture, and linguistics. By combining expert insights with interactive elements like quizzes, the podcast not only educates but also entertains its young audience, fostering a deeper appreciation for the names that define us.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Blurt Filbert introducing the contest:

  "Who's gonna take home the trophy this year? Well, that we're gonna find out." (00:05)

• Trusty Narrator on patronymic naming:

  "If one of the Aristotle's dads was named Bob, he'd be Aristotle Bobson." (11:21)

• Bob Smith on the necessity of last names:

  "It was called the Doomsday Book. It was just a long, boring list." (12:15)

• Trusty Narrator reflecting on name uniqueness:

  "But you've been saying stuff like someone was given their last name based on a nickname... Does that mean there was a time when people didn't have last names?" (10:24)

---

Episode Credits:

Names was written by Phil (Jeremy), voiced by Brad Cool Name Raider and Jerry Colbert, with technical direction and sound design by Josh What's In a Name Han. Associate producer Max No Middle Name Kamowski, theme song by Brian Say My Name Suarez, lyrics by Adam What's His Name Davis. Produced by Adam, Tex Davis, and Jerry Colbert under Atomic Entertainment.

Transcript

[Trusty Narrator]

And now it's time for who's Smarted?

[Blurt Filbert]

Well, yee hawing. Howdy, folks. A great big welcome to y'all. My name is Blurt Filbert. And I'm a tickle pig that y'all here for the greatest, the most exciting, the biggest event of the year here in Smarty County. I am of course, talking about. Drumroll, please. The annual Smarty County Fair Pizza Pie Eatin contest. Now, we've got some new contestants this year, along with some old pros. Who's gonna take home the trophy this year? Well, that we're gonna find out. But whoever is, they're gonna have to be one heck of a pizza eater.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey there, smarty pants. I'm probably gonna regret this, but I couldn't help it. When I saw they were having a pizza pie eating contest, I had to enter. Of course, I probably shouldn't have had breakfast ed lunch before this, but I got hungry anyway. I'm hoping my love of pizza will put me over the top.

[Blurt Filbert]

Now, before we get all the chewing, souring and hollering started, let's introduce the contestants. First, we've got Sharon Short. She once ate 62 meatballs in eight minutes. This is her second pizza pie eating contest. Next, we've got my friend, Pappy Peterson. This is Pappy's 9th pizza pie eating contest. He's won twice before, including last year with 26 and a half slices in just 10 minutes.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, boy. Whoa. 26 and a half slices in 10 minutes. Ah, I definitely should have had lunch.

[Blurt Filbert]

Next up, we've got Rufus Roosterhouse, the pickle and anchovy eatin champion of the world. Back for his fifth time. Still looking for that first win, though. And last but not least, we've got a brave first timer up on stage with us. He calls himself the trusty narrator. All right, let's give everybody a big old hand.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow, all these people are really good at eating. Even more so. They all have such interesting names. Blurt Filbert, Sharon Short, Pappy Peterson, Rufus Roosterhouse.

[Bob Smith]

Yep, names are what gives us our identity and makes each and every one of us unique.

[Trusty Narrator]

Right? Oh, and you are?

[Bob Smith]

I'm Robert Smith, but you can call me Bob.

[Trusty Narrator]

Bob Smith. No offense, but that doesn't sound very unique.

[Bob Smith]

I suppose you're right. But I bet most of those other Bob Smiths aren't onomasticians.

[Trusty Narrator]

Onomasta what? Now?

[Bob Smith]

An onomastician is someone who studies names, and that's what I do. Onomastics.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, well, how very convenient. You happen to be right Here right now I was just marveling at all these cool names people have. And I'd also like an excuse to get out of this pizza pie eating contest, if I'm being honest.

[Bob Smith]

So you would rather learn about names instead of eating slice after slice until you.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yeah. Don't get me wrong, I love pizza, but cramming 20 slices into my mouth hole in front of a crowd of cheering people doesn't sound like my idea of a picnic. Instead, I'd rather learn about things like where do names even come from? Why do some cultures have very similar sounding names? And how come some people just have a first and last name and other people have really long names?

[Bob Smith]

You name the time and place and I'll tell you all about names.

[Trusty Narrator]

Great. In that case, it's time for another whiff of science and history on who Smarted.

[Blurt Filbert]

Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smart? And.

[Trusty Narrator]

Parents, let's be real. The post holiday sugar crash is no joke. Christmas cookies had my family's kids bouncing off the walls one moment, crashing the next. We needed a reset. But finding healthy snacks kids love? That is a struggle. So I shared one of my favorite new who Smarted? Sponsors, Thrive Market. Thrive's Healthy Swap scanner is a lifesaver. Just scan scan the package of your kids favorite snacks like sugary cookies or salty chips, and the scanner suggests cleaner, healthier options instantly. Now, instead of sugar bombs, my extended family is loving simple mills, crackers, chomps, beef sticks and lesser evil popcorn. The kids are thrilled and the adults love that they're off the sugar rollercoaster. Whether it's low sugar, organic snacks for lunchboxes or after school bites, Thrive has us covered. Plus everything gets delivered right to your door. That is why I am so happy that Thrive sponsors who Smarted, helping us keep making the show that you love. Ready to reset with healthy snacks? Go to thrivemarket.com smarted for 30% off and a free sixty dollar gift. That's thrivemarket.com smarted okay smarty pants, I quit the pizza pie eating contest. To be honest, I don't even think anyone noticed I left. But now I'm here with the ironically named name expert Bob Smith to find out. Where do our names come from?

[Bob Smith]

Well, that's a pretty big question, trusty narrator. I think we should break it down and focus on last names first, since those tend to be more complex than first names.

[Trusty Narrator]

Excellent idea, Mr. Smith.

[Bob Smith]

In most parts of the world, regardless of culture or language, last names, also known as surnames or family names, tend to fit into one of about five categories. Let's start with a very common category, Occupational surnames.

[Trusty Narrator]

Occupation. You mean like a job?

[Bob Smith]

Exactly. Many last names are a result of the job that that first person with that last name had. For example, my last name is Smith, which comes from blacksmith or someone who works with metal. It's very likely one of my ancestors was a metal worker, and that's how that name came to be.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey, that makes a lot of sense. My last name is narrator. And I too come from a long line of narrators. Hey, smartypants, which of these names is not an occupational surname? A. Farmer, B. King, or C. Eisenhower? This one is a little tricky, but if you said King, you're right.

[Bob Smith]

Someone with the last name Farmer obviously descended from a person who was a farmer. And Eisenhower is actually German for ironworker.

[Trusty Narrator]

Right on. But wait, isn't king technically an occupation?

[Bob Smith]

I suppose, but an actual king wouldn't have that last name King. But this does bring us to the next category of last names, cognominal names. These are especially fun. A cognomenal name is a name that comes from.

[Trusty Narrator]

From what? Smarty pants? See if you can guess. Is it A, a nickname, B, a dog's name, or C, a nursery rhyme?

[Bob Smith]

The answer is a nickname. And King is a great example. You see, someone who acted like he was a king, you know, pretending to be all high and mighty, may have gotten that nickname. Or perhaps he played a king as an actor. Back in medieval England, people would put on plays called mystery plays, which acted out stories from the Bible. It was common for an actor in a mystery play to resume the same role his entire life before passing the name on to his eldest son.

[Trusty Narrator]

So an actor who played the king would get the last name King and pass that on to his son.

[Bob Smith]

Yep.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's so interesting.

[Bob Smith]

Other surnames deriving from nicknames include short, which could have been a short person, Fairchild, which may refer to someone with light colored hair, or brown for a person with brown hair. And it's not just the English language that does this. In Chinese, the last name Gao means tall.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. I wonder if there's someone out there named Andy Annoying, whose ancestors were annoying, or Brenda Blabbermouth, who couldn't keep a secret.

[Bob Smith]

You never know. Then we've got something called toponymic surnames, which are location names like Evelyn England or Diane Dorlands, which means from Orleans, or Maria Monte, which is Italian. For mountain.

[Trusty Narrator]

Also very interesting.

[Bob Smith]

Then there's ornamental surnames. These sometimes come from descriptions of a noble house's coat of arms, like the Danish name Rosencrans, which means rose wreath. Or a person could be named Gallo, the Italian word for rooster.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah. Like Rufus. Rooster house. Okay, that's four name categories. One more.

[Bob Smith]

Yep, those are what's known as patronymic and metronymic names. Those are names that come from the father or mother. Pappy Peterson probably comes from an ancestor who was the son of Peter. Hence Peter's son, which becomes Peterson.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smarty pants. True or false? Patronomic names are the oldest and most common type of last name. The answer is true.

[Blurt Filbert]

Wow.

[Trusty Narrator]

Bob Smith. Who knew that last names had such colorful stories behind them? But there's still something I don't quite understand. You've been saying stuff like someone was given their last name based on a nickname, or an ancestor was the first to have a certain last name. Does that mean there was a time when people didn't have last names?

[Bob Smith]

Great deduction, trusted narrator. And the answer is yes. In fact, first names are actually much older than last names. Whoa. Ever heard of the famous Greek philosophers Plato, Aristotle or Socrates?

[Trusty Narrator]

Of course. Have you, smarty pants?

[Bob Smith]

Well, they didn't have last names. Actually. Nobody in ancient Greece did.

[Trusty Narrator]

But hold on. What would happen if there were two people in the same town named Aristotle? What do you think, smarty pants?

[Bob Smith]

In that case, their father's name would be added. And that's where patronymic names come from.

[Trusty Narrator]

So if one of the Aristotle's dads was named Bob, he'd be Aristotle Bobson.

[Bob Smith]

Sure.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. And was it common all over the world to not have a last name?

[Bob Smith]

It depended on where you were. For example, ancient China did use surnames, and they were originally matronyc. So passed down from the mother. But in Western Europe, people didn't have last names until the 11th century.

[Trusty Narrator]

Really? So why did they start getting them?

[Bob Smith]

Well, it was mostly for practical reasons. For example, in 11th century England, the king at the time, William the Conqueror, wanted a record of every piece of land, a list of all the resources that land produced, and a list of all the people that lived there who owed him taxes. Think of it like a very early census or survey. It was called the Doomsday Book.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yikes. That sounds spooky.

[Bob Smith]

It only sounds spooky. It was just a long, boring list. And it was completed in 1086. Anyway, this long, boring list of all these people on all this land meant they needed to start giving out some Last names in order to keep track of everyone. And that's where we got a lot of those very first occupation and nickname based surnames.

[Trusty Narrator]

Fascinating.

[Bob Smith]

And by about the 1400s, most English people had last names. Around the same time, in many other parts of the world, the same process was happening. Kings, barons and all sorts of government types demanded a way to organize, count and track people. So last names became more common. There were lots of son of names happening in those early days. Like Milton Martinson was the son of Martin. Or Alberto Rodriguez would have been the son of Rodrigo.

[Trusty Narrator]

Do you remember what these were called? Smarty pants. That's right, patronomic names.

[Bob Smith]

But this also meant everyone's last name was always changing with every generation. So around the 1600s, in many parts of the world, family names were adopted. No more son stuff every time a guy has a kid, but rather one last name that's the same for everyone in the family.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, good stuff, Bob Smith. But what about first names and really long names and really weird names?

[Bob Smith]

Great questions, Trusty. In fact, did you know some names are so weird it's illegal to have them as names?

[Trusty Narrator]

I did not. But we'll find out all about them right after a quick break and a word from our sponsors. Hi guys, it's Trusty. Today's episode is brought to you by Squarespace. And I need to tell you about their new design intelligence feature because it's a game changer for anyone who's been putting off creating a website. Look, I know how intimidating tech can feel, but Squarespace's AI powered design system literally transforms your basic ideas into a beautiful professional website. We've used Squarespace to build websites here at Atomic, and what I love is that it combines AI tech with their decades of design expertise. You answer a few simple questions and it creates a fully customized site that actually looks good. No more staring at a blank screen wondering where to start. And no need to spend thousands of dollars getting a site designed for a passion project or experimental idea. Plus, their payment system makes it super easy to get paid for your services. Whether you're selling courses, booking consulting sessions or offering downloads. They've got all the popular payment options like Apple Pay and Klarna built right in. Head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial and use code smarted to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Today's episode is brought to you by IXL Learning. You know how every child learns differently. That's exactly what makes IXL special for every family. IXL is an incredibly flexible online learning program that enriches your child's classroom or homeschool curriculum with math, language arts, science and social studies. What I love most is how it adapts to each child's level. If your child races ahead in math but needs extra practice in reading comprehension, IXL adjusts perfectly to both situations. And here's what's really coolkids can explore any topic at any grade level so they're never stuck in a one size fits all programming. Plus they get instant feedback as they learn, which makes it fun. That's why parents of kids in traditional schools and homeschools have fallen in love with ixl. With IXL you will make a real research backed difference in your child's learning journey. Our listeners can get an exclusive 20% off their IXL membership when you sign up today at ixl.com smarted visit ixl.com smarted to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price Price parents Let's be real. The post holiday sugar crash is no joke. Christmas cookies had my family's kids bouncing off the walls one moment, crashing the next. We needed a reset. But finding healthy snacks kids love? That is a struggle. So I shared one of my favorite new who Smarted sponsors, Thrive Market. Thrive's Healthy Swap scanner is a lifesaver. Just scan the package of your kid's favorite snacks like sugary cookies or salty chips, and the scanner suggests cleaner, healthier options instantly. Now, instead of sugar bombs, my extended family is loving simple mills, crackers, chomps, beef sticks and lesser evil popcorn. The kids are thrilled and the adults love that they're off the sugar rollercoaster. Whether it's low sugar, organic snacks for lunchboxes or after school bites, Thrive has us covered. Plus everything gets delivered right to your door. That is why I am so happy that Thrive sponsors who Smart it, helping us keep making the show that you love. Ready to reset with healthy snacks? Go to thrive market.com smarted for 30% off and a free $60 gift, that's thrive market.com smarted and now we're back to who's Smarted. Alright, we've covered the origins of all sorts of last names, but now let's talk first names, long names and weird names. Oh, and why do some people have middle names and some don't?

[Bob Smith]

A lot of it is simply cultural. For example, in Spain and in many Spanish speaking countries in South America, a child of two takes both their last names and has a combined name. But it happens in a very specific order. So if Raul Diaz Gomez marries Paloma Vargara Perez, and they have a daughter they name Joanna. Her name would be Joanna Diaz Vergara. Then if they give little Joanna middle name, say Geraldine, then she'd be Joanna Geraldine Diaz Vergara.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay, that's a pretty long name.

[Bob Smith]

Yeppers. And here's another odd naming quirk. While in most of the world you'd write your first name first and last name last, in some cultures your last name is actually written before your first name. This is quite common in China, Korea and Japan, which is why it's called the Eastern naming order.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smartypants, which of these non East Asian countries also uses the Eastern naming order? Canada, Hungary, or Estonia? If you guessed Hungary, you're right.

[Bob Smith]

In fact, many countries have their own unique naming traditions. In some Eastern European countries, your last name depends on whether you're a boy or a girl. For example, if you're a Polish boy with the last name Perowski, your sister's last name would be Perowska. And in Iceland, first names carry more weight than last names. So much so that you call your teacher and doctor by their first names.

[Trusty Narrator]

So instead of saying Dr. Jones, I'd say Dr. Fred.

[Bob Smith]

Exactly. Except in Iceland, it would be more like Dr. Einar, Dr. Gunnar, or Dr. Magnus.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow, those are pretty cool names. But you don't hear them too often here in the United States.

[Bob Smith]

Nope. Different cultures or countries often have different popular names. And then there are some first names that are actually illegal to use. Whoa.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay, this I have to hear. What do you got, Bob?

[Bob Smith]

Well, did you know in the United States, it's illegal to name your child King, Queen, or Santa Claus?

[Trusty Narrator]

Ho ho, no, I did. Nuts.

[Bob Smith]

And in Japan, you can't name a person Devil. And in Malaysia, you can't name a person Snake.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yikes. Those are some pretty crazy names, Bob. But here's a question for you smarty pants out there. True or false? In Portugal, it is illegal to name your kid Tom. If you said true, you're right. But don't worry, all you Toms out there, you can still visit Portugal all you want.

[Bob Smith]

Names are a pretty incredible thing. They're as varied as us all. And your name is what makes you you.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's true. Even if other people share your name. By the way, According to a 2023 survey, the most popular first name in the world is Muhammad, with over 133 million people with that name.

[Bob Smith]

Whoa.

[Trusty Narrator]

In second was Maria, followed by Nushi.

[Bob Smith]

Yep, but I can only think of one trusty narrator.

[Trusty Narrator]

Aw, thanks, Bob Smith. Oops. Sorry about that. I guess I'm hungry again. Let's pop by the pizza eating contest. Maybe I can grab a quick slice or two with my name on it. A big shout out to Max in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Max wrote me a note that reads, hi, trusty narrator. I really love who Smarted because it helps me get smarter. Why, thank you, Max. And a big thank you to your mom Jen as well. We're so happy to have your family as part of our smarty family. This episode Names was written by Phil, not his real name, Jeremy, and voiced by Brad Cool Name Raider and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh what's in a name, Han. Our associate producer is Max. No middle name Kamowski. The theme song is by Brian say My Name Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam what's his name? Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam, Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.