Change Over Time in Algonquin Personal Naming Patterns
This article examines one aspect of cultural change experienced by Northern Algonquins during the nineteenth century, namely, the gradual introduction of a dual system for designating people, involving first the addition of a Christian name, then at the end of the nineteenth century, a surname. This dual system was integrated in a dynamic and complex fashion which involved much more than the simple introduction of Christian baptisms. This article analyses these changes using a combination of historical and ethnological sources. It shows the advantages of using multiple sources to understand cultural change over time.