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Re: Me
Long ago it wasn't necessary - there were small populations of people living in small communities, so everyone knew everyone else; plus, there was no central government requiring people to register births and deaths, pay taxes etc. But this started happening. And the population grew. So, it became useful to expand the naming system; Stephen Wood because he was a forester, perhaps - and his sons might be John Wood and Peter Wood, or John and Peter Stephenson, or J and P Stevens. For centuries it was a very flexible system. John Wood might have made himself unpopular in his home village, so he'd leave home and resurface in London calling himself Jack Long (if he was tall), Jack White (if he was blond and boring, or very dark with a sense of humour), or anything else. Still no identity documents and bank accounts, so he was free.Or, if a person could sing very well (or was tone deaf!), they might get called Fred Nightingale by their friends. Or the baker might keep on answering to Bill Baker until it became his name.This is why there are no names like Pilot or Programmer; they refer to modern professions, and by now our last names are fixed - unless we change them. Not sure if that's an answer to the question you asked, but it should at least give you something to go on.
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Also, I wanted to share as you have said before, it may be linked to an ancestor's profession.
In indigenous cultures, a surname can be given for the geographical location of where he/she lived and also for something the person/family had done (i.e., contributed to community/society), an action or an event and also location of the event or event time of the event or who the action/event was related to.Two families may join (including through marriage) forces for whatever reasons, and they can collective take up a new name usually given by their communities for the union or the event/action that prompted that union.
Hence there are names that are hyphenated or combination of two names or multiple names from both families.The surname exists only if there is historical importance and societal meaning, but usually in ancient times common people do not hold surnames, except to describe their heritage or ancestral lineage, where they are from geographically or socio-economically.Surnames were only held by persons/families of high societal importance, like leaders, religious or political. Most common people did not use surnames for men but often for publicly for married women they were known as Mrs. (husband's name). Sometimes married men of lower status were known by their wive's surname (their father in laws family) if her family holds higher status in the community.Personal account:I was named for two things, the "GREAT SNOW MOUNTAIN" and the rare flower or jade that is only found on the top of that mountain. That is my public name. I was also bestowed other names at birth.My last name is ancient, rich with history. The story goes that wealthy families of ancient times, during a period of poverty among the masses, would through lavish feasts and festivals, while the poor and hungry begged outside their gates(doors). Wealthy people during this period were very cruel and shunned the "trash" outside their walls. The doors were usually painted a bright vermillian red to indicate that a wealthy household lived behind the walls. My last name is the bright red of the doors, and carries implications of the story the red doors represent; however, over long periods of time, through soul energy work and forgiveness, the decendants no longer have to carry the burden of this history/memory.

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In my culture, my surname is over 5,000 years old, so through family history (storytelling and more recently, a family bible of 12 generational cycles) it is passed on who is my oldest known ancestor.
Each family/clan carries a surname and all the relatives and household people carry the surname. Sometimes servants are adopted by the families and given the same surname as their masters. Often children are secretly adopted and secrets are kept for many important reasons, so it is important not to marry anyone with the same last name so that no cousins or siblings marry by accident.
Often before any two families marry, a familial investigation is conducted so that it is clear that the two are not related at least by three generations; hence sometimes cousins do marry as long as they do not have the same grandparents or great-uncles and their parents are not related by 2-3 generations, and only by marriage.
Some people do change their names so that others will not know their history or heritage. This is a disguise and used to be unlawful in ancient times. Persons can also be bestowed with multiple names to honor ancestors and soul spirits/energy. A person can have many names and choose to go by a different name in different locations or times in their life. Some are given names from the maternal lineage as well as names of paternal lineage.
Usually the woman assumes Mrs. (her husband's surname) but she is still known publicly by her father's name. We also distinguish persons of different families by their middle names for each of 12 generational names, so distant cousins can identify their relatives. Some families also pass on the middle names to all the daughters as well as the sons.
This is to avoid genetic mishaps as well as for census purposes. It is most important to carry a surname for lineage and heritage purposes and identity, as well as distinguish persons of different social class systems.
Your lineage and heritage is very important to who you are and where your soul energy comes from. It is important to know who your ancestors are, because if not for all your ancestors you would not be alive today. It plays an important role in your individuality as well as the collectiveness of the your soul and its collectiveness of that of the universe. It is connected to who you are, your soul spirit and energy.

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