As an offshoot of the 'world with no Christianity' thread, what might be common names in different regions of Europe without Christianity?
As an offshoot of the 'world with no Christianity' thread, what might be common names in different regions of Europe without Christianity?
As an offshoot of the 'world with no Christianity' thread, what might be common names in different regions of Europe without Christianity?
To start the ball rolling; a version of the Icelandic naming system so for example Charles Phiilipson and Anne Elizabethdaughter.
I don't think the adoption of hereditary surnames in Europe had to do with Christianity.
Partially, it does, church being the institution keeping records of names, it was used to make easier the fixing of surnames. Of course, it would be most probable that such fixing would happen sooner or later with the development of states and their administrations, but the usage of personal surnames could have lasted longers and let more traces in a modern and contemporary society.
Partially, it does, church being the institution keeping records of names, it was used to make easier the fixing of surnames. Of course, it would be most probable that such fixing would happen sooner or later with the development of states and their administrations, but the usage of personal surnames could have lasted longers and let more traces in a modern and contemporary society.
Well, if the church isn't keeping records, then states will. Maybe it will happen later, but eventually you'll start having the state mandate set surnames.
But, I think that it's possible that countries with patronyms, Norway and the like, will keep the system, just because of butterflies. Iceland seems to be doing fine with no hereditary surnames, after all.
A lot of Asian states didn't mandate fixed surnames. Much of South India and a lot of Muslim cultures go by patronymics.
As Flocculencio has stated the use of family names as surnames are not common in South India. Sometimes personal name of father is used in place of surname. Among Hindus use of caste names as surnames were common not only in South but all over India. In the southern states of Kerala and Tamilnadu surnames are seldom used.
As said, church registration matters here, but yeah, it's not the only factor. Indeed, familial names stressing common descent from a single ancestor (ie. Amelungen) are very common early on in the Germanic world, so it's very likely to be pre-Christian.I don't think the adoption of hereditary surnames in Europe had to do with Christianity.