Presumably it evolved from the honorific format of of 'Mr./Ms./Mrs. Surname', which itself presumably arose out of the societal and familial norms of inheritances and marriage and even profession ("Schumaker" family making shoes, "Baker" family in kitchen work and baking bread, etc.), which surnames historically served as connections and indicators of, while being less commonly shared between other families as first names. Which I would assume was an evolution from systems of tribal clan names into new material conditions.
It's not only a US thing, and not even only English it's a wider west European thing from their particular historical developments and how languages reflected and were reflected in that. In french you have 'Monsieur/mademoiselle surname' too for instance, or Señor/Señora Surname in Spanish etc. etc. And due to surnames indicating profession/status/inheritance/marriage there are also honorifics that were used in that same format for royal and nobility and clergy titles indicating what noble or royal family. "Father Surname"/"Lord Surname"/"Monsignor Surname"/"Monseigneur Surname" etc.
It's very common in all or almost all indoeuropean languages, as in those there are way more different surnames than first names, so it's harder to confuse people, especially in context.
I think it supposed to be a respect thing for people higher in a social hierarchy? So, people like presidents always get surnamed. I don't think its that common in normal everyday life?
Why do americans refer to people by their surnames?
Shit would get confusing real fast what with all the Mikes running around.
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Presumably it evolved from the honorific format of of 'Mr./Ms./Mrs. Surname', which itself presumably arose out of the societal and familial norms of inheritances and marriage and even profession ("Schumaker" family making shoes, "Baker" family in kitchen work and baking bread, etc.), which surnames historically served as connections and indicators of, while being less commonly shared between other families as first names. Which I would assume was an evolution from systems of tribal clan names into new material conditions.
It's not only a US thing, and not even only English it's a wider west European thing from their particular historical developments and how languages reflected and were reflected in that. In french you have 'Monsieur/mademoiselle surname' too for instance, or Señor/Señora Surname in Spanish etc. etc. And due to surnames indicating profession/status/inheritance/marriage there are also honorifics that were used in that same format for royal and nobility and clergy titles indicating what noble or royal family. "Father Surname"/"Lord Surname"/"Monsignor Surname"/"Monseigneur Surname" etc.
It's very common in all or almost all indoeuropean languages, as in those there are way more different surnames than first names, so it's harder to confuse people, especially in context.
I think it supposed to be a respect thing for people higher in a social hierarchy? So, people like presidents always get surnamed. I don't think its that common in normal everyday life?