Bretrick
Well-known Member
- Location
- Perth Western Australia
What was the first official government document to include a space for people's middle name?
Not the answer I am looking for.I would think either a Social Security application or a passport.
World wide.Which government?
My guess that I'm pulling out of thin air: The Doomsday Book? I don't think that's the answer because I have no idea when middle names became common, or sir names for that matter.
Not the answer I am looking forBirth certificates?
Many guesses.How many guesses are we allowed?
Disclaimer: I've been up most of the night and I can't ingest enough coffee to make up for it.
First Official Government DocumentBaptismal certificates?
A birth certificate?What was the first official government document to include a space for people's middle name?
Not the answer I am looking forA birth certificate?
Now as to the origin of Surnames (sic) in Britain, they weren't widely used until after the Norman Conquest in 1066. As the country's population grew, it became necessary to distinguish between people and so names began to include descriptions of the person, such as Thomas son of John (Johnson) or William the baker etc. The use of a middle name seems to originate in ancient Rome, but only came into use in the middle ages in Britain.
I found out with the same article.The U.S. enlistment form....I googled
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58440/why-do-we-have-middle-names
That would then be a US document and not world wide.Middle names had started to become more or less official by World War I, when the U.S. enlistment form became the first official government document to include a space for them.
It was the first document anywhere to have a space for a middle name.That would then be a US document and not world wide.
You could have asked something easy like.... Erik Weisz and his contribution to Australian aviation. You probably already know this one.
So did I. That's what braniacs do, we research.The U.S. enlistment form....I googled
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58440/why-do-we-have-middle-names