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Basically, your first name IS your name. In many countries, fixed last names were only introduced in the early 19th century. In Iceland people still don't have 'real' last names. You are legally called "Peter .....son" of "Marie ....dottir", de dots being filled out with the person's first name whose son or daughter you are. It is the same system that old England had, look only at the many Johnsons in the phone book.

Same thing in Eastern Europe, where in many countries most last names have the meaning of 'son of' and 'daughter of'. Russia does have fixed last names, but you always address people by their first name, followed by the first name of his or her father. Vladimir Putin for instance is never addressed by his fellow Russians as "mister Putin", but as "Vladimir Vladimirovich" (Vladimir son of Vladimir").

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11y ago

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