The Significance of Family First Names and Surnames

Discover stories your name has carried for generations.

Have you ever thought that perhaps your family name created history? Surnames and given names often originate from occupations, places, or even an ancestor's characteristic. A surname ties us to our ancestors, their stories, their origins, and their languages. A given name might reflect an effort to carry on a mother's surname. Names can be sources of pride, shame, curiosity, or mystery. If you write a poem about your name, you'll have to dig into your ancestry to learn the hows and whys of the origins of your name, right? When you conduct that research, you're also learning more about yourself and how your name shapes your identity, both public and private.

🖋️ Poetry Form Spotlight: Acrostic Poem

In an acrostic poem, the first letters of each line spell out a word. Perfect form to test on your surname. For instance, the first letters in each line in this poem spell out my surname:

Grandpa Goin said our surname came from
Our urges to travel, to constantly move
In and out of towns and states of mind.
Nomads we were, and continue to be.

How to write an acrostic poem from Poetry For Kids (yeah, that's the easy way to learn!).

✍️ Mini-Prompt

Write an acrostic using your surname. Each line should include a story, image, or feeling that connects to your family identity. I'm sorry if you have a long surname, but you'll be a better acrostic poet in the long run!

💬 Call to action

Don't write your poem alone! Sit down with your family to write an acrostic poem. You might be surprised how this exercise will lead to other name poems. Additionally, you may inspire others to explore the roots of your name with you and uncover stories you've never heard. HAVE FUN.

Visit this article at GoinPoetic.com to obtain a checklist and a reader’s list for this topic.