What's In A Name? (1959-60)

STARTING at a new school, I have found many new surnames, and after looking up the definition of surnames in the dictionary I was reminded of a story my father told me about three years ago, concerning Chinese names. He said that while in a Chinese quarter of an Eastern city he came upon the name of Woa Hup inscribed on, of all things, a steamroller! In China the majority of the people. bear the name of Ching, Chang, Chung, Wing, Wang, Wong, Sun, Sin, Pin, Hung, Fung, or Kung. The remainder seem to be called Li, Lo, Ip, Yip, Yow, Chow, Yee, Kee, Tak, Sek, Hing, Ying, Shin, Shun, Ah, Ma, Soong, Loong, Ho, or Po. It is interesting to note that the Christian name is placed behind the surname, thereby relieving the monotony of the surnames. Very frequently encountered are the amusing Wing On, Ping On, Sing On, Hang On, and the inviting Hop On.

Also found is the optimistic Ah Ho and Ah Ng. A more doleful note is struck by Ah Me and its ironic echo Ah Yew. Perhaps it is as well that the surname comes first in the case of Wing Fat, but does not matter as in Pin Pin. It is not surprising that after finding a joyous Ha Ha, my father had to search for a Hi Ho, a Yo Ho or even a So So. This was, of course, in vain. After discovering a Yuen Yew he just had to find a Yuen Me.

D. N. DUMVILLE, 1A.