Quotes by Surnames In more static societies, like Ireland, you can tell where a person is from by their surname, or where their grandparents are from. Anne Enright surnames static grandparent There is no English surname, however ancient and dignified, that cannot instantly be improved by the prefix ‘Spanker’. Christopher Hitchens surnames ancient There are many times where even I, at certain points in the evening, after a few drinks, can't pronounce my own surname. Milla Jovovich surnames evening drink I was advised by an American agent when I was about 19 to change my surname. Rachel Weisz surnames agents change