Today I have chosen to talk about the name Shawn because I think it\u2019s really interesting that each name has its own origin and every name can shape a person\u2019s personality, culture, language and tradition. Names can come from so many translated words, going back thousands of years, and originally were used to keep things organised. Though we only have written records of names the latest being from around 3,200 BCE, early humans would\u2019ve used sounds or noises as spoken labels. Unfortunately, there is no written, or archeologically evidence of what may have been used instead of the names we use now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last names were only introduced in the early Middle Ages, but up until then simple names were given to tell them apart. Whilst early Greeks used simple names such as Plato, Ancient Romans would use more complicated ones like Praenomen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As names have been translated down, their original meanings may still be present. For example the name \u2018Olivia\u2019 is one of the most popular names worldwide, but it first came from one of Shakespeare\u2019s characters in \u2018Twelfth Night\u2019, and it originated from the Latin word olive (oliva). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The origin of the name Shawn Anglicized form of the Irish name Se\u00e1n, which translates to the Hebrew name John. The name it\u2019s self means \u2018God is gracious\u2019 <\/em>or \u2018gift from God\u2019, <\/em>and while the name has been popular since the 1970\u2019s, it dates all the way back to biblical times, just as John the Baptist trusted in Jesus in the Bible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, the next time you meet someone who\u2019s name sounds quite ordinary, think about where that name really came from, and how long it would\u2019ve taken to become what it is now. Who knows? It might be completely different 100 years from now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n -Sophie H, Year 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n Websites to checkout: <\/p>\n\n\n\nLanguage<\/strong> <\/td> Form\u202fof\u202fthe\u202fName<\/strong> <\/td> Notes<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr> Hebrew <\/td> Yochanan<\/em> <\/td> Original\u202fform\u202fmeaning\u202f\u201cGod\u202fis\u202fgracious\u201d <\/td><\/tr> Greek <\/td> Ioannes<\/em> <\/td> Adapted\u202fthrough\u202ftranslation <\/td><\/tr> Latin <\/td> Johannes<\/em> <\/td> Spread\u202facross\u202fEurope\u202fvia\u202fChristianity <\/td><\/tr> Old\u202fFrench <\/td> Jean<\/em>\u202f\/\u202fJohan<\/em> <\/td> Influenced\u202fEnglish\u202fnaming <\/td><\/tr> Irish\u202fGaelic <\/td> Se\u00e1n<\/em> <\/td> Irish\u202fform\u202fof\u202fJohn <\/td><\/tr> English <\/td> Shawn<\/strong> <\/td> Anglicized\u202fspelling\u202fof\u202fSe\u00e1n<\/em> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n