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00:00Did you know Thailand didn't have surnames until the early 18th century?
00:04Before that, people weren't known by just one name or title.
00:07This changed around 1913 when King Rama VI introduced surnames to modernize the country.
00:14King Rama VI made it law for everyone to have a family name,
00:18helping to shape a more organized society.
00:21These surnames can also tell us about a person's background.
00:24If someone is a former soldier, their surname will often include words like Yothin.
00:29People involved with careers that involve elephants may have Khocha or Khacha in their surnames.
00:35Medical professionals commonly have words like Wit or Wet.
00:39Surnames can also tell us about where someone is from.
00:42For example, southern names may show Malay influence,
00:46while northern names might link to the Orana Kingdom.
00:50Today, surnames reveal more than just a name.
00:52They give us a glimpse into a person's background.