Friday, January 22, 2010

Patronymics and Other Naming Patterns

It's always good to be reminded of the naming conventions practiced in various countries. For beginning  researchers, the information may be all new, and for experienced researchers, there might be something yet to learn. In her article, "Patronymics and Other Naming Patterns," Melissa Slate points out certain conventions and practices that might be new to some. For example, the simple addition of "s" or "es" to indicate the "son of." So rather than the son of Peter being given the surname Peterson or Petersen, as is familiar, the surname might be Peters, instead. So if you've ever wondered how the name Williams or Davis came about, this might be a clue. Naming patterns and practices, the consistencies and inconsistencies, are at once complex, challenging (to say the least), and fascinating. For even more perspective, you may wish to review some the archive links included in this week's newsletter. Other articles on the subject can be found by doing a keyword search at the top left of this page.

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