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Re: surnames
in reply to a message by Judie
Family names exists since 10th. century AD approximately, when it was necessary to make difference between John (the "tailor") and John (the one who lived by the river), then: John Tailor and John River. And so on...
This process was simultaneous in all the countries, in every language:
John Taylor was Giovanni Sartorio (Italy), Juan Sastre (Spain), Jean Tailleur (France), Johann Schneider (Germany), etc.
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