Throughout history, it was common for humans to have multiple first names to differentiate them from other people with the same name. As societies became more complex or under the influence of more advanced civilizations, these distinct names became fixed and hereditary. The form of last names varies depending on the aspects deemed important by a society at the time of the adoption of last names. For example, hunter-gatherer societies often differentiated people by an event, a characteristic, or a religious significance. In contrast, in more technologically advanced cultures with a sedentary lifestyle, last names generally derived from professions, social status, or places of residence. Last names derived from the father's name are common, especially in less developed societies at the time of surname adoption.
