Its main function is to distinguish the descendants of different clans in the tribe and facilitate intermarriage between different clans. Therefore, the appearance of surnames marks the change from group marriage system to consanguineous marriage system, which is an important milestone in the progress of human civilization.
Surnames are passed down from generation to generation, which is generally stable, while surnames change with the changes of feudal cities and official positions, so there will be several surnames in one's descendants or different surnames between father and son. Last name and first name together constitute a person's first name. "Surname, unified his ancestors from the exam; The surname is not divided by his descendants. " The surname is a racial number, and the surname is a branch of the surname. Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, surnames began to merge.
Extended data:
Ancient surnames originated from primitive tribes that existed in early human life. Surnames, like first names, are symbols representing everyone and their families. From the long historical process of its formation, development and evolution, it is an important part of Chinese national culture. Surnames are divided into single surnames (Zhang, Wang, Li, Zhao, etc. ), multiple surnames (Huangfu, Sima, Ouyang, etc. ) and multi-word surname (Aisingiorro). The generation and development of surnames is a very interesting topic, involving sociology, history, linguistics, philology, geography, folklore, demography, toponymy, astrology, psychology and many other social sciences.
Archaeological data show that there are less than 30 surnames in the bronze inscriptions of the Western Zhou Dynasty, but most of them come from women, such as: Jiang, Yao, Si, Ji, Wa, Maid, Pregnant, Princess, Shan and Won. Not only ancient surnames are related to the word "female", but even the word "surname" itself comes from the female side, which is probably the characteristic product of matriarchal clan system. Women are in a dominant position in production and life, and group marriage is practiced. Brothers and sisters can marry. Under this system, children only know their mothers, not their fathers. Therefore, there are many stories circulating in the myth that "a saint without a father was born in heaven". The appearance of surnames is a sign that primitive people gradually got rid of ignorance.
References:
Baidu encyclopedia-surname
References:
Baidu Encyclopedia-China Surname Culture