The Origin of Family Names in English and Uzbek Languages
Keywords:
surname, identity, English, Uzbek, history, cultureAbstract
Family names, or surnames, are not merely linguistic labels but serve as essential indicators of cultural, social, and historical identity across civilizations. In both English and Uzbek cultures, surnames have developed under significantly different socio-political and linguistic conditions, making their comparison meaningful for understanding collective identity formation.
This study adopts a comparative linguo-historical methodology, categorizing surnames from English and Uzbek sources into occupational, locational, patronymic, tribal, and descriptive types. Data was collected from surname dictionaries, historical registries, and academic literature, with emphasis on political and cultural influences such as the Norman Conquest in England and Soviet-era reforms in Uzbekistan.
The results show that English surnames largely emerged between the 11th and 14th centuries, often denoting profession, lineage, or geographic origin (e.g., Smith, Johnson, Hill), and were gradually standardized. Uzbek surnames, in contrast, originate from tribal affiliations, Islamic customs, and were later reshaped by Russian suffixation such as “-ov/-ev” during the Soviet regime, though native forms like “-zoda” still persist.
This contrast reveals how surnames in both cultures reflect deeper socio-political histories—English surnames emphasize occupational roles and feudal structures, while Uzbek surnames mirror tribal organization and state-imposed linguistic policies. Despite the differing origins, both systems reveal the importance of names in preserving identity and heritage.
Understanding the development of English and Uzbek surnames illuminates broader processes of language evolution and cultural memory. Surnames, therefore, are not static elements, but dynamic reflections of historical and social transformation, shaped by power structures, migration, and policy shifts over centuries.
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