Surnames, Sir!

I am quite curious about what the surname is for each Zelda character, so in this thread, I intend to figure out each important character's surname (less important characters' names could help too).

Ganondorf
I believe that Ganondorf's surname is "Dragmire", simply because NoA said so and even though they just made it up from nowhere, it doesn't contradict what NoJ has to say as they haven't said anything on that matter.

Zelda
Zelda's surname is likely "Hyrule". I figured this because in WW, the ancient King of Hyrule (related to Zelda) stated his name to be "King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule".

Link (general)
This one is pretty baseless, but I think that "Link" would be the protagonist's surname, while his given name is simply the one you give him when you start your game (X Link).

Link (TMC)
In the Medieval Times, people were given surnames based on their occupation. In TMC, Link's grandfather was a sword smith and, coincidentally, his name is "Smith". If that is his surname, then his grandson would be named Link (or whatever name you give him) Smith.

For all Links, any Link descended from the one in TMC would be named X Smith and all the other Links would be named X Link.


What do you think? I await your input.

Impa is a family name... I suppose it might be a surname.

Thank you, Cukeman. I forgot about that.

Impa
"Impa" would be the surname of Princess Zelda's nursemaid. The elderly woman we meet in the Hidden Village in TP would, in full, be named Impaz Impa.

Beemnorv: Impaz Impa? Sounds rather strange. What is the basis for Impa being a family name?

I can't remember, but I think Impaz says that her name is derived from her family name or from the person who founded the village. I remember the words "family name" being in there though.

By family name i thought she meant something like the naming all female princesses Zelda tradition.

Originally Posted by Oxford Dictionary

surname n. a family name.

Okay but couldn't the tradition of Zelda be a family name as well?

"Link Smith" sounds like somebody who makes chains for a living.

Since nobody but Daphnes and Ganondorf are ever indicated to have last names, it may not be something the common citizen would have.

Look at Ocarina of Time and its "Lon-Lon" Ranch, named for the second syllable in the names of Talon and his daughter Malon. Had they a surname, I think that would have been the name of the ranch instead.

Mandrag: It's possible. Although what if lon is their surname? We really have no way of knowing. Although i thought Lon-Lon meant something in japanese(kind like how Jabu-Jabu means splash splash and Kakariko essentially means cluck).

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

Okay but couldn't the tradition of Zelda be a family name as well?

No, that's a family tradition. "Zelda" is still her given name. The name that's there by default is the family name (Hyrule), so every female born into the Royal Family is named Zelda Hyrule.

Wait if Zelda got married and had a child then wouldn't her surname stop being Hyrule? I'm getting confused.

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

Mandrag: It's possible. Although what if lon is their surname? We really have no way of knowing.

A guy named Talon Lon calling his business "Lon-Lon"? That actually works pretty well...
Still, I'm pretty sure they ain't got one.

I don't want to pull a SVB, but I think this is bordering theory and fiction guessing names...

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

Wait if Zelda got married and had a child then wouldn't her surname stop being Hyrule? I'm getting confused.

Yeah, I just thought of that too. Maybe people of royalty get to keep their surname, or women could possibly be the dominant gender of Hyrule and men have to change their surnames when they get married.

Well then Daphnes wouldn't be named hyrule anymore. Maybe it's just a social thing where the higher social class is the one whose name is adopted by the spouse.

Originally Posted by Navi the Fairy

I don't want to pull a SVB, but I think this is bordering theory and fiction guessing names...

As I explained to smallville boy before he was banned, a theory is just an idea used to explain something (according to my dictionary) and as such, a fanfic can be a theory if it's used as an explanation.

Here, I am using some evidence to fill in the lack of surnames.

Actually, you're kind of right. This does just border on theorizing as there isn't really anything to explain. This is simply an idea.

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

Maybe it's just a social thing where the higher social class is the one whose name is adopted by the spouse.

This. This is what I'm going to stick to until I can find a better explanation.

Originally Posted by Beemnorv

Yeah, I just thought of that too. Maybe people of royalty get to keep their surname, or women could possibly be the dominant gender of Hyrule and men have to change their surnames when they get married.

if the female was superiour then Zelda (if her mother is dead in WW) then she would be queen.

Originally Posted by Exziron

if the female was superiour then Zelda (if her mother is dead in WW) then she would be queen.

Yeah, I changed my theory. See the post above.

^ okay and oh is SVB realy Banned?