== Names of families, tongues, countries, and nations == 

 Gen 10:20 mentions of the descendents of Ham as being names of families, tribes, cities, etc. depending on which version of the Holy Bible you are referencing.  I think there is even an earlier note of such a thing.  I feel it possible that the numbers of years are entirely accurate but that although these are names of individuals, the names and years also reference the lineage, much like a surname.