New answers tagged europe
2
Short Answer:
In my humble opinion, religious and biblical names probably became common in western Europe centuries before family names became common. I do not think that people would be afraid of widespread use of a few personal names leading to confusion between different people with the same personal name, and so avoid using religious names. I think that ...
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According to wp, in Germany, family names appeared first in the cities (from the 12th century onwards). Having no family name was still quite common in the 14th century and in the countryside family names became only necessary in the 17th or 18th century.
If we look at a few name lists, most Minnesängers from the 12th to 14th centuries seem to have had ...
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I hitchhiked alone all over Europe in the 70s after leaving the UK as an unemancipated minor in 1972. At that time I couldn't even buy a Youth Hostel card without parental consent, so I slept rough in campsites without a tent or even a groundmat, I am surprised now that I was able to do that. But despite my age it was remarkably easy to pass through borders ...
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