MEANING IDEAS
THERE IS A STORY BEHIND YOUR NAME! TRY A ‘MEANING IDEA’ TO INSPIRE CHILDREN TO LOVE FAMILY HISTORY!
FAMILY CRESTS OR COAT OF ARMS
Some family names have a coat of arms or a crest. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines a coat of arms as “the principal part of a system of hereditary symbols dating back to early medieval Europe, used primarily to establish identity in battle. Arms evolved to denote family descent, adoption, alliance, property ownership, and, eventually, profession” (“Coat of Arms,” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019). Collins Dictionary defines a crest as “a design that is the symbol of a noble family, a town, or an organization” (“Crest,” collinsdictionary.com, 2019). These two terms are often used interchangeably. When looking at a coat of arms or crest you can learn about the family name by trying to understand the symbolism of the various signs and colors displayed.
FIND AND LEARN ABOUT SURNAMES
Most surnames have a meaning, and finding out the history of their last name or an ancestor’s last name will help children to understand their family in greater depth. Use a search engine or books to learn about the name. Discover how many people in the world have the last name and in which countries it is prevalent at forebears.io/surnames. Social media can be used to connect with others with the same last name and see what they know about the name. Here are some questions to consider when researching a surname:
Where did the name come from?
How did it evolve?
Why was the name given? (Some examples include names that indicated professions or described the way people looked, their abilities, or their religious background.)
What is the oldest form of the name?