Forms of family organization

Kinship is the socially recognized relationship between people who are to be biologically related or who are given the status of relatives by marriage, adoption, or other ritual.

Familial bonds may be traced through a genealogy, which is a written or oral statement of the names of individuals and their kinrelations to one another.

The nuclear family.The nuclear family is generally defined as a married couple and their children (including adopted and fostered children, as well as the couple's natural children).

The one-parent family. A common variant of the nuclear family is the one-parent family. This form consists of one parent and his or her children. One-parent families may be formed through widowhood, divorce, or separation. They may also be formed when an unmarried person, usually a woman, raises children on her own. In many Western industrialized societies, the one-parent (especially the single-mother) familyis becoming more common.

FAMILY NAMES

Family names came into use in the later Middle Ages ( 11-16th century). The use of family names originated in aristocratic families and in big cities, where they developed from original individual surnames when the latter became hereditary. Whereas a surname varies from father to son, and can even be changed within the life span of a person, a hereditary surname that develops into a family name better preserves the continuation of the family, be it for prestige or for the easier handling of official property records and other matters.

Family names frequently developed from forms of given names; e.g., from Henry came Harry, Harris, Hal, Halkin; from Gilbert came Gibbs, Gibbons, Gipps, Gilbye, Gilpin; and from Gregory there developed Gregg, Grigg, Greggs, Griggs.

Other sources of family names are original nicknames--Biggs, Little, Grant (grand, large), Greathead, Beaver, Hogg, Partridge; occupations--Archer, Clark, Clerk, Clarkson (son of a clerk), Bond, Bonds, Bound, Bundy (bondman); and place-names--Wallace (man from Wales), Allington, Murray, Hardes, Whitney (places in England), Fields, Holmes, Brookes, Woods (from microtoponyms).

A great number of family names come from patronymic surnames; in English, they are usually formed by the suffixationof "-son." Patronymic surnames can be formed from the father's given name or from any of its variants: Richardson, Dickson, Dixon, Dickinson; and Henryson, Harrison, Henderson; Gilbertson, Gibson; and Gregson, Grigson. Some English patronymics, particularly in old families, are formed with a prefixed "Fitz-" (“son”) (e.g., Fitzgerald). In contradistinction to English, the Scottish patronymics are formed by a prefixed "Mac" or "Mc" (McGregor), the Irish with "O" (O'Brien) or "Mc" or "Mac," and the Welsh with "P-" (Powell "son of Howel").

The development of family names is similar in all of Europe.

The only outstanding exception to this European pattern of naming occurs with the names of kings, who use one of their given names. The British royal family accepted the name Windsor only in 1917.

What’s in a name?

1. Changing names: Everyone knows that Marilyn Monroe’s real name was Norma Jean Mortenson. Why did she change it? Why do people change their names? Would you like to change your name? Should women be forced to change their name when they get married?

2. Nicknames: The former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was known by two nicknames – Maggie or The Iron Lady. Is it common for school children to give each other nicknames such as Ears ( for someone with large ears), Curly ( for someone with curly hair). What nicknames can you remember from school?

3. Pet Names: Can you think of typical names in your country for animals.

4. Some names have special meaning. For example, Andrew can mean brave, little one, moral, good, eagle, fox. Cara can mean sweet melody, daughter of the prophet, third child. Does your name have a special meaning?

EXERCISES

Ex1. A) Find English equivalents to Russian words of kinship. Explain the meaning.