In ancient times, we need to know that the surname and the given name were separate. In ancient times, matriarchal clans were dominant, so the surname was initially a symbol of the woman, marking the kinship of the maternal clan and indicating which ethnic group you came from. Your name is given to you by your father to show your dignity. Lowly people only have surnames but no first names, while only noble people have both surnames and first names. Therefore, in ancient times, having a first name and a surname was a symbol of a person's identity.
How the surname came about depends on which clan you belong to. In ancient times, each ethnic group had its own totem. This totem slowly evolved into the surname in the family. This surname represents Depending on which ethnic group you are from, a series of subsequent things must be done according to this surname, such as marriage. People with the same surname cannot get married. This is also for the health of future generations. With the evolution of time, there are more and more surnames, and the surnames that are truly handed down from ancient times have become rare and precious. There are only more than 80 surnames that have been handed down now, and the others were added in history.
The ancients used names to refer to themselves. Names were given by elders and were used for address. In the beginning, people's names were relatively simple and casual, and any word could be used. However, with the development of culture, names have become more and more complex. Some names place high hopes on parents, and some names record names. It refers to the important event of birth, and some praises the child's virtue. The more educated a family is, the more thoughtful they are in naming their children.
Names reflect the evolution of history. In ancient times, names were often difficult to understand and complicated. Many heavenly stems and earthly branches were used in naming, which is difficult for people today to understand. In later feudal society, naming had great significance. It was often benevolent, righteous, propriety, wisdom, trust, and ancestors, which fully reflected the wisdom of the working people. Later, during the founding of the People's Republic of China, the names of the country, the army, and the party were used again, demonstrating the Communist Party's willingness to jointly build a better tomorrow. During the reform and opening up, with the introduction of foreign culture, many adults liked to give their children a foreign name. Nowadays, names have become more and more meaningful.