by Lady Emily
Does it ever seem strange that some of us walk around with only one name, like myself, while others are graced with two, like Lord Anthony Marsaela, for instance?
Last names, or surnames, are usually thought of as the norm for nobles alone – indeed, it is a general fact that most nobles have a surname, and that most of the rest of us do not.
But why?
It harkens back to a time when all of us had only a single name. (We’re back in old Masalla now, perhaps two or three thousand years ago.) It was a time when the world was wilder, when huge mountain dragons were still common, and heroes were easier to come by. It’s probably with those heroes that it all began. Alexander’s brother, Malaan let’s say, happened to slay a dragon. Such a feat brought great glory not only to the slayer, but to his family as well. Wouldn’t you be proud of your son if he did such a thing? The problem was that after generations had passed, the glory would fade away, and the once famous family would become ordinary again.
And then someone realized that the glory could be remembered if only there was some sort of constant reminder. What better way to immortalize Malaan’s name than to attach it to the rest of the family as a kind of formal title?
And that’s probably how Alexander became Alexander Malaan.
It was a fashion that quickly gained in popularity, and it was not only the names of heroes that were adopted, but of famous artists, warriors, or leaders.
And since these heroes and artists and warriors and leaders often amassed wealth and fortune, the surname was naturally attached to people and families of higher means.
By the time we have the first good written histories, early in the reign of the Loredae family in Masalla, about fifteen hundred years ago, the surname had been established as an official title. Records show that a surname had to be granted during a special ceremony performed by the King himself, and that there was a person, called a "nomond", who helped the family choose a name. You see, often times a name, though it belonged to the family’s "famous person", was considered unsuitable for use. A name such as Ash (a popular men’s name at the time) was seen as too common sounding or harsh to serve as a surname. Thus the nomond would turn it into "Ashelle". The ‘elle’ suffix was the most popular addition during those days. A feminine aspect was considered to lend beauty and grace to the surname, while the famous person’s true name was still highlighted. That’s why we see so many ‘elle’ names today.
As fashions changed in Masalla, so did surnames, and often a woman achieved enough fame to lend her name to her family. For example, Anthony Marsaela takes his surname from Marsaela, the famous female archer during the Unicorn Wars. That leaves us with an amazing assortment of surnames in today’s world.
Even into the Goddard reign here in the Old World, surnames were an officially granted title, and it was not only a breach of etiquette, but of law, to bestow one upon yourself. But as generations of nobility became more and more distant from the King, some of them fell so low as to become merchants, soldiers, or in some cases, even commoners. These folks retained their surnames unless they were officially revoked, which is why we often see surnames in rather unlikely places. And now that Queen Lillian is in power, things are even more confusing, since the legal restrictions on surname usage have been dissolved.
In today’s society, anyone can give themselves a surname. While you might think that this would destroy the respect conferred by the possession of such a name, just the opposite is true, since the tradition has displayed its strength despite the lack of legal protection.
When Lillian first dissolved Goddard’s laws and strictures, quite a few people adopted surnames. Many of them had legitimate ancestors who had accomplished great deeds, but hadn’t been able to gain a surname under Goddard because they weren’t part of the "inner establishment". Others were simply commoners who thought it would be vicious to have such a name.
In the case of the commoners, most of their friends soon grew tired of having to call their best friend by such a long and drawn-out title, and when a commoner would present themselves with a surname among others who also possessed one, they would often be ridiculed. So we see that even though the laws were dropped, surnames have kept their noble connotations.
Most of us still go by a single name alone, and it will likely remain as such in the future. But if you do meet someone with a surname, don’t be afraid to ask them who their namesake is. They’ll be proud to tell you tales of the family’s hero or heroine, and you’ll doubtless leave with stories to remember.