Last names as we know them now originated in the Middle Ages from people’s occupations, where they lived, their father’s first name, or even their appearance or disposition.

 
 
Subject Areas
Art and Culture
   Anthropology
History and Social Studies
   World History - Asia/Far East
   World History - Europe
 
Time Required
  Activity 4: 60 minutes
 
Skills
  Interpreting and analyzing written and oral information
Making inferences and drawing conclusions
Vocabulary development
Cross-cultural connections
Research
Working collaboratively
Categorizing
 
Additional Data
  Date Created: 06/17/03

What’s In A Name? Non-British Surnames

Lesson Four of Curriculum Unit:
What's in a Name?

Introduction:

Modern American society is known for its ethnic diversity, and this, of course, is reflected in a wide variety of surnames. In this activity, students will learn about the origins and meanings of surnames commonly used in the United States that derive from non-British cultures.

Guiding Questions:

What characteristics do non-British surnames have in common with British ones?

What are some of the differences?

Learning Objectives:

Students will learn some of the common characteristics of surnames around the world.

Students will also learn some of the unique characteristics of surnames in different countries.

Instructional Plan:

  • Access The Origins and Meaning of Names available through the Internet Public Library and scroll down to The Origins of Surnames Around the World (Most non-British surnames fall into the categories of patronymic, descriptive, locative, and occupational.) What are some of the differences? (Chinese names have only one syllable; many Greek names have a religious connection; recently created Hebrew names tend to be descriptive; all Italian surnames end in a vowel; most Japanese names are locative; and so on.)

Student Activity:

1.Chinese surnames:
1. name:
2. name:
3. name:
4. name:
5. name: 		1. meaning:
2. meaning:
3. meaning:
4. meaning:
5. meaning:
2. French surnames:
1. name:
2. name:
3. name:
4. name:
5. name: 		1. meaning:
2. meaning:
3. meaning:
4. meaning:
5. meaning:
3. German surnames:
1. name:
2. name:
3. name:
4. name:
5. name: 		1. meaning:
2. meaning:
3. meaning:
4. meaning:
5. meaning:
4. Greek surnames:
1. name:
2. name:
3. name:
4. name:
5. name: 		1. meaning:
2. meaning:
3. meaning:
4. meaning:
5. meaning:
5. Hebrew surnames:
1. name:
2. name:
3. name:
4. name:
5. name: 		1. meaning:
2. meaning:
3. meaning:
4. meaning:
5. meaning:
6. Hispanic surnames:
1. name:
2. name:
3. name:
4. name:
5. name: 		1. meaning:
2. meaning:
3. meaning:
4. meaning:
5. meaning:

Assessment:

  • After the charts have been filled in, call upon students to share some of the names they have found, as well as their meanings. When each of the seven cultures is mentioned for the first time, have the student tell something about the origin of surnames in that culture.

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Return to Curriculum Unit: What's in a Name?

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Other Information

Standards Alignment

  1. NCSS-1

    Culture and cultural diversity. more

  2. NCSS-2

    Time, continuity, and change. The ways human beings view themselves in and over time. more

  3. NCSS-3

    People, places, and environments. more

  4. NCSS-9

    Global connections and interdependence. more

  5. NCTE/IRA-6

    Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts. more

  6. NCTE/IRA-7

    Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience. more

  7. NCTE/IRA-8

    Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge. more

  8. NCTE/IRA-9

    Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.

  9. NGS-10

    The Characteristics, Distribution, and Complexity of Earth’s Cultural Mosaics

  10. NGS-4

    The Physical and Human Characteristics of Places

  11. NGS-9

    The Characteristics, Distribution, and Migration of Human Population on Earth’s Surface

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