4 ms·
It's more fair to say those names meant something at some point. Now they just mean you are descended from someone with that surname.
by frumper 4y ago
It's more fair to say those names meant something at some point. Now they just mean you are descended from someone with that surname.
- JohnFen 4y agoThey haven't lost those meanings at all. They may not have any special significance for you, but the meanings of the names remain nonetheless. When I meet a "Johnson", my mind immediately goes to "John's son" even though "John" is probably a distant ancestor of the person, not their father. The name's meaning has not changed.
- anonymouskimmer 4y ago"Johnson", and similar names in other languages, can also indicate connection with the early Christian church, not a literal connection with a person named John. "Johnson" in this sense means someone who is a 'son' of John the Baptist (aka, a Christian). Or so I've read.
- JohnFen 4y agoI wasn't aware of the John the Baptist connection. Very interesting! Thank you.
- anonymouskimmer 4y ago> Now they just mean you are descended from someone with that surname. Adoption exists. I'm the first in my patriline to be born with my surname. So yes, technically I am descended from a person with that surname, but my father wasn't. Also, changing a name on marriage happens.
- frumper 4y agoYou're right. Those events just move you further away from any past meanings of the surname.