In Winter, names are of paramount importance.
For example, one must have a name before enrolling in a church school. The same applies to engaging in trade, finding employment... even being adopted requires a child to be named by the elder of one's own family.
An unidentified "thing" that is killed would only result in a charge of "destruction of public property" for the murderer.
Delving deeper, people often take the opportunity to ask about the meaning of your name and, in the process, inquire which elder chose your name... essentially inheriting the network of relationships established by the older generations.
And this name must necessarily include a surname.
