The urban mythology around forced namechange is immense. I have read the Sami people were single named, and made by the Finnish state to adopt surnames, with a proscribed list of names (Stalin, Hitler..) they couldn't pick.
We were told (racist?) officials at Ellis island picked names like Goldwater for immigrants to make fun of them, but we are also now told this was pure myth, and more likely stories of German naming practices for absorbed Jews in the 18th and 19th century (Napoleon basically enacted emancipation for european Jews, and the emergent states acquired citizens as a consequence, as I understand it) carried forward.
If you are obliged to pick a name by petty officialdom, having fun with it seems like something some people would do. I think now we're aware how problemmatical a name can be (Little Bobby Tables) this is something wiser parents don't foist on their children.
A colleague from Indonesia has one name. Many Indonesians have one name. Most non-indonesian forms assume two, and demand a family name, so they double up their single name. It can make for some fun times presenting ID at borders.
Control of registering was implemented in Germany in 1875, with increased military ambitions. Everybody born had to be registered and so had their parents, their profession and where they are from.
The latter having even some specifics, such as a small landmark, where they are to be found.
Obviously to find the young man for military service if required.
The church had a similar system before, but didn't registered everyone, only members.
Many Germans names are professions like
Schuster, Müller, Schmied, Spengler, Fickenwirt, Schäffer, Fassbinder and so on.
Some are landscapes
Hügel, Hove, Höcker, Berg, Barg, Moor, Bach and so on
Some added the man to it
Bergmann, Bargmann, Moormann and so on.
Or you have other interesting combinations.
Many names are construction from areas and professions, everything you would find on the new governmental register or the church register before that.
I always thought it would be very logical to translate your specific landmark or job into a lastname. Just the typical lack of creativity of a governmental employee.
2 comments
[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 12.3 ms ] threadWe were told (racist?) officials at Ellis island picked names like Goldwater for immigrants to make fun of them, but we are also now told this was pure myth, and more likely stories of German naming practices for absorbed Jews in the 18th and 19th century (Napoleon basically enacted emancipation for european Jews, and the emergent states acquired citizens as a consequence, as I understand it) carried forward.
If you are obliged to pick a name by petty officialdom, having fun with it seems like something some people would do. I think now we're aware how problemmatical a name can be (Little Bobby Tables) this is something wiser parents don't foist on their children.
A colleague from Indonesia has one name. Many Indonesians have one name. Most non-indonesian forms assume two, and demand a family name, so they double up their single name. It can make for some fun times presenting ID at borders.
Many Germans names are professions like Schuster, Müller, Schmied, Spengler, Fickenwirt, Schäffer, Fassbinder and so on.
Some are landscapes Hügel, Hove, Höcker, Berg, Barg, Moor, Bach and so on
Some added the man to it Bergmann, Bargmann, Moormann and so on. Or you have other interesting combinations. Many names are construction from areas and professions, everything you would find on the new governmental register or the church register before that.
I always thought it would be very logical to translate your specific landmark or job into a lastname. Just the typical lack of creativity of a governmental employee.
I think it is similar for other countries.