When it comes to Nigerians, you can tell a lot about a person's lineage just from the surname the person bears. You could even tell if they are royalty or if it is a form of chieftancy. It tells a lot about the family. Even before the advent of identification cards, social media profiles, and profile pictures, you could go back with a person's name or, better still, their surname. I have a theory that before profiling became a thing used in movies, Nigerians were already doing it, or at least our forefathers were into it. Like when a person mentions their surname, and they get a response like are you not the son of Chike, the renowned palmwine tapper, well known for his palmwine tapper skill and just like that, the profile has come in. They just have to hear the surname and leave them to do the profiling for you. This is right from time, and to some extent, it is still being used in the world of today, maybe by older people, and they might question you about the origin of the name. The one I find funny is when they start to speak your language to you just from discovering your surname or query why you do not know your language. For your information, do not respond in English once the native language comes into the conversation.
For many people, their surname is not just a name, but it says a lot about the family heritage. It even goes down to the lineage and the kind of work such a family went into. It is interesting to see that something like a surname can tell a lot about an individual or, better still, serve as an embodiment of part of a story. What becomes interesting is when such a name becomes a unifying factor in identifying one's kinsmen. Imagine meeting an individual at an event or gathering, then after introducing yourself to one another, only to discover that you both are from the same state and hometown. I am sure something like this can be exciting. It is also a reminder that one is not just in existence as a single entity, but rather they are a representation of their family. This is something I choose to see as a reminder that you are not alone in this world. So actions taken can be in the preservation of one's family name and heritage.
The bearing of the Nigerian surname also serves as a means to keep the family name alive. Just like wealth can be passed down from one generation to another, the same can be done with a surname. The family name can be kept through the surname. For instance, in a family, when the eldest passes on, probably a grandfather, a change in the surname to the name of the grandfather can be done as a means to remember the grandfather and preserve his heritage. This is also applicable in the aspect of names. One could name their child just after their parent as a means of remembering the parent or keeping their legacy alive.
The aspect of one's name can also serve as a builder of family relationships within two or more families. The surname of a family could serve the premise for knowing if one will get married to the family or not. An arranged marriage can be carried just through the surname of a family.
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