"son of"

[svphillips99]

Hi -

I was curious about the origin of the expression "Son of ..." (e.g. "He sure is a son of Italy" etc.). Seems that it is often used to connote a particular nationality or affinity, but I'm not sure if historically it actually denoted one or the other or a different characteristic...i.e. if it had legal significance and then was appropriate to popular usage. I'd love to know if you had any resources about this expression/idiom/phrase.


Thanks!
Sarah

[Tdol]

It could tie in with the sons of the soil idea.

Surnames in English started after the 1066 Norman invasion, and places where people came from were one source. 'Son of a gun' may originally have been a term for babies born to prostitutes aboard navy ships where paternity was uncertain. 'Son' features in names like Johnson, and Fitz- means 'son of'.

It might, therefore, be a bit of both- characteristics, locations, etc, were turned into names, which would have legal significance.