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Ahmad Hill
Professor Lynn Raymond
University Writing 1104
19 July 2016
The Forming of My Name
Cultures vary on the way names are formed and utilized throughout marriages and
generations. Quite a few contemporary societies, like the United States of America, do not
require that a last name specify family connection, and allow the changing of names. In the
majority of American and European countries the last part of their name indicates what family
that person belongs to. Conversely, African and Asian countries typically utilize their family
name first (Family Names).
Most family names from British origin can be referenced from ancestral occupations,
personal characteristics, geographical features, place names, landowners, or religion. For
African-Americans many have had their family or last names given to them from former slave
owners (Family Names). According to the examples provided in the Family Names article,
my last name Hill was given based upon geographical features, which is interesting since on my
fathers side of the family most of them live in the hilly and steep parts of Virginia. My mothers
maiden name is Cooper, which is someone in the trade of making utensils, casks, drums and
barrels, and other items, usually out of wood. When discussing the history of my grandmothers
house with my mother, she told me that her father and a friend built their house. It was truly
shocking to discover the correlation between my mothers maiden name and my grandfathers
physical capabilities.

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So, my name is Ahmad Rashad Hill, and when most people ask why was I named that,
they imply that I have a religiously Muslim background, and I have to continuously reply, No, I
am not Muslim, I am actually Christian. When I confronted my parents about why I was named
Ahmad Rashad the simple answer was, You were named after a famous football player and also
the famous musician. According to my mother, my father gave me this name and had no other
purpose behind it. Throughout my family tree, names are passed down and reused repeatedly,
such as my niece having the same middle name as my mother, Patricia. Often parents are placed
under the pressure or expectation of naming children what their grandparents want to name them,
something that usually has family value.

Works Cited

"Family Names." Family Crests. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 July 2016.

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