4 ms·

In South India people don't always use surnames. Rather it is in format <Given name> <Father's Name> or wise versa.

• sundarurfriend 6y ago
  Yep. At least in my state (Tamilnadu), this is because people gave up caste names voluntarily as part of the anti-caste-discrimination movement, and became mononymous. Then, those of us who had to interact with people and entities that strictly assume a two-name structure started using Father's name as last name, simply because a lot of registration forms (and some people too) cannot cope with the idea that someone doesn't have a lastname. It's not universal though, or even a majority - a lot of people still are mononymous, and many are confused when Facebook and the ilk ask for "Last name" (and sometimes fill in hilarious things).
  • higerordermap 6y ago
    Well I am from Karnataka where that's not as pervasive. But I can't tell which is father's name and which is given name, because some also use the <Father name> <Given name> pattern. And then some people have multiple names. Is actor Vijay's first name Joseph, Vijay or Joseph Vijay? Just asking.. :)
  • 082349872349872 6y ago
    and sometimes fill in hilarious things Many odd dutch surnames date back to dutchies, who had previously been using patronymics, having fun with the first census, taken under Napoleon in 1811.