Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?

　　People’s first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.

　　Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means “bright”; Beatrice means “one who gives happiness”; Donald means “world ruler”; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.

　　The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near a brook(小溪)；someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.

　　Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter — a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter — a person who made pots and pans.

　　The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.

【河北省武邑中学2016届高考英语一轮复习单元检测：33】相关文章：

★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练：选修7 unit5《Travelling abroad》

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习大题冲关秘籍短文改错：体验真题（含解析）

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(二十八)必修5Module 4《Carnival》（外研版）

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题21 语言学习话题指导（学生版）

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习课时训练：7（含解析）

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题11 青少年成长话题指导（学生版）

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题02 报道评论话题指导（学生版）

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(二十六)选修6Unit 1《Art》

★ 【北京专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习方案课时作业：选修7 Unit 3 Under the sea

★ 山东省济宁市2016年高考英语复习：高一英语语法归纳总结