>>I understand gender specific firstnames, but not surnames. What surname do the children take on then? How does a surname get passed from generation to generation?
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>Children get their father's surname (it's called here initial, though kids here don't inherit father's name).
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>E.g.
>Last Name First Name Surname Gender
>Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich male
>Ivanova Ol'ga Ivanovna female
Actually, looks like I'm wrong in understanding of "Surname" meaning. Is it an equavalent of a Last Name? If yes, then my example is wrong. I was talking about "family name" or "father's name" or what's the right term in English?
In Hebrew it would be "ben/bat - son/daughter of"
In USA it is not used, AFAIK. (only in the form of initial, may be)
In Russia it's used in all official documents.
If it's not broken, fix it until it is.
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