I had always been curious why Thais have such long surnames until a fellow foreign student (during my California days) enlightened me.
It appears that there was a time when Thais (or Siamese, as the people of Thailand were then called) did not have surnames and had no need of one. As the population of the country grew, the absence of surnames became a source of much confusion. That would be easy to imagine. In the Philippines, where a great number of men are named “Boy” and a great number of women are named “Baby” one could easily imagine how the lack of surname could lead to some confusion. A typical conversation between a son and his parents could go as follows”
Son: Mother and Father, I would like to have your blessing to ask for Baby’s hand in marriage.
Parent: Which Baby are we talking about? The one who was born out of wedlock by Nene the storeowner?
Son: No. The Baby I’m talking about is not from our town. She’s from the town of Dao where the town folks refer to her as “The Beautiful One.”
Parent: Which town are we talking about? The one in Pampanga?
Son: No, dear father. I’m talking about the one in Capiz.
Parent: I have been to that town and I know of at least two women there named “Baby” and also called “The Beautiful One” by their town mates—one in awe and admiration and the other one in jest. Which one are you talking about?
Son: Ah….
Apparently, something similar came to fore, or was foreseen to come to fore in Thailand, so in order to remedy or forestall such chaos, an order was then sent out that all clans must then choose a name by which their clan or family must be known by, and register the same with the proper authorities.
Incidentally, the term “chaos” is the Greek word for disorder. It’s the antonym of “cosmos” which on the other hand means order. We also use the term “cosmos” to refer to outer space. Apparently, from afar, outer space seemed orderly—that is, until you see different heavenly bodies slamming against one another. “Cosmos” is also the root word of “cosmetics.” Somehow, cosmetics were supposed to put order on a woman’s face. One look at Madam Auring (or the character Mimi in “The Drew Carey Show” for those not familiar with Philippine culture) would show that the ancients have been gravely mistaken on both counts.
Once again, I digress.
Now, if two unrelated families or clans registered the same name, it would still result in confusion so one of the rules under the registration of family names is that families and clans can only register under the same name if they are related to one another. We have adopted a similar system in the Philippines in the registration of business names with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The first clan or family to register a name would have the right to such surname. Subsequent registrants would have to find another name for their clan or family.
Of course, in Thailand, as in the Philippines, some families were more equal than other. It was not a free for all. Royalty and prominent families were allowed to register their surnames first so they pretty much had the pick of choice names. The rest would have to settle for their second, third, fourth, or fifth choices.
As a matter of convenience, latter registrants merely appended syllables and letters to their first choice of surnames until they had one which was not yet taken by an unrelated family or clan.
For the Shinawatra family, the original registration of their family name may have happened in the following manner:
Patriarch: My name is Sufian and I would like to register the name Shi as the name of my clan.
Registrar: The name Shi has already been taken by a family in Bangkok engaged in the business of renting out elephants to building contractors. Are you related to that family?
P: No.
R: Well, pick another surname then.
P: How about Shina?
R: Taken by a family in Chiang Mai. If you’re not related, pick another name.
P: Shinawat?
R: Taken by a family from Pattaya.
P: How about Shinawatra?
R: Let me see…. Well, that name appears to be available, Mr. Shinawatra.
As a general rule in Thailand then, the longer one’s surname is, the lower one is in the totem pole of social order.
I also asked a Mexican-American friend once why a lot of Mexicans seem to have very long names. He basically echoed the rationale oft-mentioned in the western movies of yore. What they lack in life, Mexicans make up for in names. As a corollary, when you meet a Mexican named Carlos Slim, there’s almost 100 percent certainty that he is rich while one named Arturo Simeon Matteo Juan Jose Miguel Alejandro Tomas Emmanuel Fernando Percival (and basically any series of names that you can recite to the tune of “La Cucaracha) Santa Cruz y dela Torre is almost certainly dirt poor.
We mere Filipino mortals think along the same lines of our Mexican cousins. It is now common practice to give children at least two names. And if that were not enough, we use all manners of titles and initials to extend our names. The more common titles we use are “doctor,” “engineer,” “attorney,” and “father” which reflect the traditional trades and profession pursued by Filipinos.
We are also big on political appellations. There’s “gov” for governor, “senator,” “cong” which is short for congressman, “mayor,” and “kap” for baranggay captain. We are so enthralled by these titles that we insist on using them long past the time when “gov” or “senator” or “congressman” or “mayor” have already relinquished or have been ousted from their respective positions.
And then, we also make up titles as we go along. First, there was Nora Aunor as “Superstar,” only to be eclipsed by Sharon Cuneta as “Megastar.” It’s not too far-fetch for the next “Gigastar” and “Terastar” to come along. “Terastar” should not be confused with Tera Patrick, who I heard has already a title of her own—pornstar. Regine Velasquez is locally known as “Asia’s Songbird” although she would probably better known in Australia as Michelle van Eimeren’s husband’s mistress. Equally meaningless titles abound. We have a “Soul Siren,” a “Prince of Karting,” and an “Actress for all Seasons.” When you really think about it, those don’t mean diddly squat.
A more insidious practice we are guilty of is giving ourselves titles which we have not earned nor deserved. One is not a banker simply because one works for a bank in the same way that not all people who work for a stockbrokerage are stock brokers. Law school graduates who are taking the bar exams are NOT barristers. The term “barrister” is reserved for lawyers in England who are qualified to appear before the courts. What we call “barristers” should be called bar examinees. Furthermore, only the bar examinee who garners the highest average in the bar exams can be called “bar topnotcher.”
We also tend to play fast and loose with titles that have definite meanings. A ballerina has to meet specific qualifications before she can be called a “prima ballerina” in the same manner that only sparkling wine from specific grapes grown in the Champagne region of France and fermented under strict conformance with the rules of the Method Champanoise can be called Champagne.
The term “triathlete” refers specifically to those who participate in triathlons. Merely engaging in three different sports activities does not make one a triathlete.
To call one’s self a sportsman, one must be actively participating on a more or less regular basis, in a sports activity. Cockfighting is only a sport as far as the roosters are concerned. What we call “sabungero” is not a sportman but a gambler.
One does not get to be called a “doctor” without meeting certain requirement. As a general rule, one must have a doctorate degree, whether actually awarded after completion of the necessary curriculum, or bestowed in an honorary manner. Being an optometrist simply does not cut it. Optometry is a four-year college degree usually culmination in the award of a Bachelor of Science degree.
Having the intials “D.R.” such as Donita Rose, does not qualify one to be called a doctor on basis of one’s initials alone.
One’s Ph.D. degree must be one that stands for Doctor of Philosophy to entitle one to be addressed as a doctor. Getting a pubic hair do just would not do.
Of course one could be officially named and christened “Doctor” and called be called such even without the need for a doctorate degree.
It appears that there was a time when Thais (or Siamese, as the people of Thailand were then called) did not have surnames and had no need of one. As the population of the country grew, the absence of surnames became a source of much confusion. That would be easy to imagine. In the Philippines, where a great number of men are named “Boy” and a great number of women are named “Baby” one could easily imagine how the lack of surname could lead to some confusion. A typical conversation between a son and his parents could go as follows”
Son: Mother and Father, I would like to have your blessing to ask for Baby’s hand in marriage.
Parent: Which Baby are we talking about? The one who was born out of wedlock by Nene the storeowner?
Son: No. The Baby I’m talking about is not from our town. She’s from the town of Dao where the town folks refer to her as “The Beautiful One.”
Parent: Which town are we talking about? The one in Pampanga?
Son: No, dear father. I’m talking about the one in Capiz.
Parent: I have been to that town and I know of at least two women there named “Baby” and also called “The Beautiful One” by their town mates—one in awe and admiration and the other one in jest. Which one are you talking about?
Son: Ah….
Apparently, something similar came to fore, or was foreseen to come to fore in Thailand, so in order to remedy or forestall such chaos, an order was then sent out that all clans must then choose a name by which their clan or family must be known by, and register the same with the proper authorities.
Incidentally, the term “chaos” is the Greek word for disorder. It’s the antonym of “cosmos” which on the other hand means order. We also use the term “cosmos” to refer to outer space. Apparently, from afar, outer space seemed orderly—that is, until you see different heavenly bodies slamming against one another. “Cosmos” is also the root word of “cosmetics.” Somehow, cosmetics were supposed to put order on a woman’s face. One look at Madam Auring (or the character Mimi in “The Drew Carey Show” for those not familiar with Philippine culture) would show that the ancients have been gravely mistaken on both counts.
Once again, I digress.
Now, if two unrelated families or clans registered the same name, it would still result in confusion so one of the rules under the registration of family names is that families and clans can only register under the same name if they are related to one another. We have adopted a similar system in the Philippines in the registration of business names with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The first clan or family to register a name would have the right to such surname. Subsequent registrants would have to find another name for their clan or family.
Of course, in Thailand, as in the Philippines, some families were more equal than other. It was not a free for all. Royalty and prominent families were allowed to register their surnames first so they pretty much had the pick of choice names. The rest would have to settle for their second, third, fourth, or fifth choices.
As a matter of convenience, latter registrants merely appended syllables and letters to their first choice of surnames until they had one which was not yet taken by an unrelated family or clan.
For the Shinawatra family, the original registration of their family name may have happened in the following manner:
Patriarch: My name is Sufian and I would like to register the name Shi as the name of my clan.
Registrar: The name Shi has already been taken by a family in Bangkok engaged in the business of renting out elephants to building contractors. Are you related to that family?
P: No.
R: Well, pick another surname then.
P: How about Shina?
R: Taken by a family in Chiang Mai. If you’re not related, pick another name.
P: Shinawat?
R: Taken by a family from Pattaya.
P: How about Shinawatra?
R: Let me see…. Well, that name appears to be available, Mr. Shinawatra.
As a general rule in Thailand then, the longer one’s surname is, the lower one is in the totem pole of social order.
I also asked a Mexican-American friend once why a lot of Mexicans seem to have very long names. He basically echoed the rationale oft-mentioned in the western movies of yore. What they lack in life, Mexicans make up for in names. As a corollary, when you meet a Mexican named Carlos Slim, there’s almost 100 percent certainty that he is rich while one named Arturo Simeon Matteo Juan Jose Miguel Alejandro Tomas Emmanuel Fernando Percival (and basically any series of names that you can recite to the tune of “La Cucaracha) Santa Cruz y dela Torre is almost certainly dirt poor.
We mere Filipino mortals think along the same lines of our Mexican cousins. It is now common practice to give children at least two names. And if that were not enough, we use all manners of titles and initials to extend our names. The more common titles we use are “doctor,” “engineer,” “attorney,” and “father” which reflect the traditional trades and profession pursued by Filipinos.
We are also big on political appellations. There’s “gov” for governor, “senator,” “cong” which is short for congressman, “mayor,” and “kap” for baranggay captain. We are so enthralled by these titles that we insist on using them long past the time when “gov” or “senator” or “congressman” or “mayor” have already relinquished or have been ousted from their respective positions.
And then, we also make up titles as we go along. First, there was Nora Aunor as “Superstar,” only to be eclipsed by Sharon Cuneta as “Megastar.” It’s not too far-fetch for the next “Gigastar” and “Terastar” to come along. “Terastar” should not be confused with Tera Patrick, who I heard has already a title of her own—pornstar. Regine Velasquez is locally known as “Asia’s Songbird” although she would probably better known in Australia as Michelle van Eimeren’s husband’s mistress. Equally meaningless titles abound. We have a “Soul Siren,” a “Prince of Karting,” and an “Actress for all Seasons.” When you really think about it, those don’t mean diddly squat.
A more insidious practice we are guilty of is giving ourselves titles which we have not earned nor deserved. One is not a banker simply because one works for a bank in the same way that not all people who work for a stockbrokerage are stock brokers. Law school graduates who are taking the bar exams are NOT barristers. The term “barrister” is reserved for lawyers in England who are qualified to appear before the courts. What we call “barristers” should be called bar examinees. Furthermore, only the bar examinee who garners the highest average in the bar exams can be called “bar topnotcher.”
We also tend to play fast and loose with titles that have definite meanings. A ballerina has to meet specific qualifications before she can be called a “prima ballerina” in the same manner that only sparkling wine from specific grapes grown in the Champagne region of France and fermented under strict conformance with the rules of the Method Champanoise can be called Champagne.
The term “triathlete” refers specifically to those who participate in triathlons. Merely engaging in three different sports activities does not make one a triathlete.
To call one’s self a sportsman, one must be actively participating on a more or less regular basis, in a sports activity. Cockfighting is only a sport as far as the roosters are concerned. What we call “sabungero” is not a sportman but a gambler.
One does not get to be called a “doctor” without meeting certain requirement. As a general rule, one must have a doctorate degree, whether actually awarded after completion of the necessary curriculum, or bestowed in an honorary manner. Being an optometrist simply does not cut it. Optometry is a four-year college degree usually culmination in the award of a Bachelor of Science degree.
Having the intials “D.R.” such as Donita Rose, does not qualify one to be called a doctor on basis of one’s initials alone.
One’s Ph.D. degree must be one that stands for Doctor of Philosophy to entitle one to be addressed as a doctor. Getting a pubic hair do just would not do.
Of course one could be officially named and christened “Doctor” and called be called such even without the need for a doctorate degree.
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