54 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
First and simplest, there are the names that may he called 
personal, that is to say, surnames derived from some name 
which would now be called a Christian name, and which, in 
countries where the Christian faith is predominant, would 
legally be so called, to whatsoever creed the possessor of it 
might belong. These names, which, as I say, we call Christian, 
were once the only names ; and it is a strange fact, perhaps one 
of the strangest facts in history, that though now they seem 
only to be an addition to a surname, they still constitute 
the true legal name of the owner. The surname, in brief, 
commencing only as a fashion, remains as such. It may be 
changed at pleasure, but the Christian name attached to it, and 
which specially marks its owner, can only be changed by legal 
process. It was natural, therefore, in the change of fashion 
which took place when surnames were introduced, that the 
name by which the person had previously been known should 
either remain as a surname or should be modified by a prefix 
such as Mac, the son of, or a suffix, such as son. 
In the second instance, there are the surnames derived from 
names of places, towns, counties, countries, villages, even 
houses in which the person lived. The man would be so-and- 
so of such a place, or so-and-so belonging to such a place : if the 
place were his possession, he would be of it ; if he merely lived 
in the place, he would be belonging to it. 
In a third division of names come those derived from some 
inanimate substantive things, such as a stone, a forest, a wood, 
a mill. The person, would be called so-and-so of the mill or of 
the forest, upon which, by a very slight change, would follow, 
in many cases, names from occupations connected with the 
substantive things, such as Miller, Forester, and so forth. 
In a fourth instance were surnames derived from the names of 
animals, which names, characteristic of the animal, were some- 
times names of contempt. 
Fifthly, there were names derived from qualities of the mind 
or of the body of the person. The man was sprightly, or 
strong, or frail, or hardy, or proud, or wild. Even peculiarities 
arising from disease would come under this head, such as 
Fits, Splayfoot, Leper, or Eickets. 
In a sixth and last division were names signifying some- 
thing more than qualities, that is to say, titles derived from 
estates, affairs or offices, such as King, Noble, Crown, Court, 
Judge, Sheriff, and the like. 
I have reduced these derivations of names to a few simple 
and natural forms, in order to lead to the theory I would 
propound respecting name and race. When the fashion of 
surnames came into use, the surnames were taken, necessarily, 
either by accident in each case, or by some order or design 
