Why do Indians go by their last name?

In India, surnames are placed as last names or before first names, which often denote: village of origin, caste, clan, office of authority their ancestors held, or trades of their ancestors.

Why do some Indian people not have last names?

They are rational and atheist. They abhor the caste system and wish to shun it. They have some personal reason for not using surname, which can’t be revealed.

Can a father and son have different surnames in India?

Yes it is legally ok and correct there shall be no issue. Dear Sir/Madam, The constitution guarantees freedom to all and fundamental rights as well and there is no law binding that you should have specific surname and hence you may have any name of your choice. Use this name in birth certificate.

Is Last name mandatory in India?

The answer to this is that Indian law does not require/mandate you to change your surname after marriage. It is a social norm. Also, it is a myth that your surname will automatically change after marriage or marriage registration.

Do all Sikh have the same last name?

Sikhs have a given name and one or both of a surname and a Khalsa name. The surname may be a family name (based on the name of the ancestral village, ex. Gill) or a caste name. Some Sikhs do replace their original surname with their Khalsa name, but many retain their original surname and add the Khalsa name before it.

Is Last Name mandatory in India?

Is it common to not have a last name in India?

Except in many parts of India. Many Indians don’t have a surname at all and are known only by one name (Dharmendra, Pran). The obvious problem with this approach is that no clues are known about the person’s family — siblings, parents, paternal uncles and grandfather.

Can you live without a last name?

In the United States, going without a name is not inherently illegal. Police won’t arrest you for not having a name. For instance, you need a legal name on a birth certificate or social security card to obtain a driver’s license or passport, open a bank account and get a job.

Is it legal to not have a surname?

There is no law preventing you from being known by a single name, or mononym — that is, a first name only, with no surname — and HM Passport Office should accept such a name, although they may be more sceptical of your application.

Where do surnames come from in India?

Indian surnames and family names are derived from a variety of systems and naming conventions. The surnames are influenced by religion, profession, region, caste etc. Here is our list of Indian surnames and their origin/ meaning.

Why do so many Indian Americans have non-traditional last names?

So a lot of second-gen/third-gen Indian-Americans have somewhat non traditional last names, because their last name is actually an amalgamation of their father’s or grandfather’s first name and middle name. This isn’t the case with first-gen/immigrant Indian-Americans, because the issue was cleared up and now we get to keep our last names:).

Is the use of father’s name common in India?

The use of father’s name is not that common in North-India. But otherwise, the way of determining family title is same. Also, the title came first. And later when our ancestors limited themselves to a particular profession, did it get classified in a specific caste.

Why do some Indians just use initials instead of full names?

Both upper and lower strata of the society participated in its implementation. Many others, however, were proud of their heritage and continue to use all their names. This is the primary reason why some Indians just use initials whereas some use the complete name.