Usually, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of current answers. That question is "What's your name?" Everyone gives a different answer，but everyone is correct.
通常，当你的老师问一个问题时，只有一个正确答案。但有一个问题目前有数百万个答案，这个问题就是“你叫什么名字？”每个人给出不同的答案，但每个人都是正确的。

Have you ever wondered about people's names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?
你有没有想过人们的名字？它们来自哪里？是什么意思

People's first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person．A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
人们的名字由父母决定。有时使用祖父母或其他家庭成员的名字。一些父母选择名人的名字，男孩可以叫乔治·华盛顿·史密斯，女孩可以叫海伦·凯勒·琼斯。

Some people give their children names that mean good things．Clara means"bright"; Beatrice means "one who gives happiness"; Donald means"world ruler"; Leonard means"as brave as a lion"．
有些人给孩子起的名字意味着好的寓意。Clara（克拉拉）的意思是“聪明的”；Beatrice（比阿特丽斯）的意思是“给人幸福的人”；Donald（唐纳德）的意思是“世界统治者”；Leonard（伦纳德）的意思是“像狮子一样勇敢”。

The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near brook; someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest．
最早的姓氏来自地名。Brook（布鲁克）或Brooks（布鲁克斯）家族可能住在brook（小溪）旁；一个叫Longstreet的人可能住在一条长长的公路上。Greenwood一家住在一片茂密的森林里或附近。

Other early surnames came from people's occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter﹣a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter﹣a person who made pots and pans．
其他早期姓氏来自人们的职业。最常见的职业名称是Smith，意思是用铁或其他金属制造物品的人。过去，smith是每个城镇和村庄非常重要的工人。其他一些职业名称是：Carter﹣拥有或驾驶手推车的人；Potter﹣制造锅碗瓢盆的人。

The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village．The Carpenter's great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture. Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Baker（贝克）家族的祖先可能为他们家乡的邻居烤面包。Carpenter的远祖可能建造房屋和家具。有时，人们因头发或皮肤的颜色、体型或特殊能力而闻名。当同一个村子里有两个叫John（约翰）的人时，灰色头发的约翰可能会变成John Gray。或者John很高，可以称自己为John Tallman。John Fish可能是一名优秀的游泳运动员，John Lightfoot可能是一名跑步运动员或优秀的舞者。

Some family names were made by adding something to the father's name. English-speaking people added -s or -son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family's ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O'Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.
有些姓氏是在父亲的名字上加了一些字母。说英语添加-s获-son。Johnsons一家是John的后代；Roberts一家的祖先是Robert。爱尔兰和苏格兰人添加Mac或Mc或O。也许所有的MacDonnells家族、McDonnells家族和O'Donnells家族都是Donnell家族的后代。