Why do we have last names?
Name Tag Time Machine
Why do we have last names?
Imagine a village five hundred years ago where everyone is named John. John the baker waves to John the farmer, who's talking to John who lives by the river. "Hey John!" someone shouts, and seventeen heads turn around. You can see the problem.
For most of human history, one name was enough. Your village was small—maybe a hundred people—and everyone knew everyone. If there were two Marys, you'd just say "Mary with the red hair" or "Mary from the hill." Simple.
