"Traditionally, Jewish people did not inherit surnames but used patronymics or matronymics preceded by 'ben' son of or 'bat' daughter of, for identification."

.... Kate Monk's Onomastikon

"There is a logical structure to the Arab naming convention that, once seen, makes it simple to decipher a person's recent ancestry."

... Arab.net

"In times past the people of Persia had no surnames, but in many instances they were known by the name of the district, city, town, or even the village from which they came."

... Persian & Arabic Names

"Afrikan names were particularly popular in the 1700s, declining in use in the 1800s, and all but abandoned in the 1900s."

...African Names