2 Answers - Sort by: Date | Rating
This is a very interesting question.We all have surnames but how many of us have actually thought when and where the concept of surname originated. How did this whole idea evolve? We know that it allows us to distinguish between two people but most of us do not know about its history.
It is said the surnames were actually derived from four different sources. These sources were as follows
Patronymic – surnames were derived from the first name of father
Surnames were derived from locality or place
Occupation or social status were used as surnames
Nicknames describing person or personality were used to distinguish people.
Some examples are as follows
Patronymic
Peterson - son of Peter (Swedish)
Petersen - son of Peter (Danish)
O'Reilly - grandson of Reilly (Ireland)
Surnames were derived from locality or place
Cliff - steep hill
Ashley – describes a field surrounded by ash trees
Occupation or social status
Knight - knighthood conferred by the king
Smith – blacksmith
Nicknames used as surnames. Examples are given below.
Small - Body size
Armstrong - strong arms
The most interesting part is that the spelling of various surnames was not fixed till the 20th century. Before that two similar surnames were spelt in various ways depending on the person.
It is said the surnames were actually derived from four different sources. These sources were as follows
Patronymic – surnames were derived from the first name of father
Surnames were derived from locality or place
Occupation or social status were used as surnames
Nicknames describing person or personality were used to distinguish people.
Some examples are as follows
Patronymic
Peterson - son of Peter (Swedish)
Petersen - son of Peter (Danish)
O'Reilly - grandson of Reilly (Ireland)
Surnames were derived from locality or place
Cliff - steep hill
Ashley – describes a field surrounded by ash trees
Occupation or social status
Knight - knighthood conferred by the king
Smith – blacksmith
Nicknames used as surnames. Examples are given below.
Small - Body size
Armstrong - strong arms
The most interesting part is that the spelling of various surnames was not fixed till the 20th century. Before that two similar surnames were spelt in various ways depending on the person.
0
0
- Is The Surname Friebus Populer?
- What Does The Surename Hammond Mean?
- What Is A Savage 112 Vfs Worth Used?
- What Does The Surname Warner Mean?
- Has A Kid Ever Spanked You?
- What's The Origin Of Budah's Last Name?
- What Does The Last Name Hicks Mean?
- Where Did Xeroderma Pigmentosum Originate?
- What Is The Origin Of The Surname Kriz?
- Should A 13 Year Old Be Spanked?
- Where Does The Last Name Robison Originate?
- What Does The Last Name Moulton Means And Where Does It Originates From?
- What Origin Is Henry?
- What Is The Distance From Duran To Hillcrest?
- What Does My Surname Tibos Mean?
- Where Does The Name Brough Come From?
- Were Dose The Surname Vallance Com From?
- What Is The Irish Origin Of The Name Grace?
- What Caste Does Batham Surname Belong To?
- What Origin Is Albright?
- What Dose Gould Mean?
- Where Does The Surname Sizemore Originate From?
- Where Dose The Name Broderick Come From?
- Does Anyone Of French Descent With The Surname 'Merry'(spelt In English)? I Don't Know How To Type It In French So It's Like How You Spell Beret In French But With An 'm' Not A 'B'?
- What Is The Origin Of The Last Name Monger?
- What Is Origins Of The Surname Of Last?
- What Are The Origins Of The Surname MacKenzie?
- What Are The Origins Of The Surname Jardine?
- What Are The Origins Of The Surname Falliford?
- What Is The Origins Of The Surname Ratliff ?
- What Are The Origins Of The Surname Currence
- What Are The Origins Of The Surname DeLay?
- What Is The Origins Of The Surname "Moulson"
- What Are The Origins Of The Surname "Fuller"?
- Hattley Surname Origins, Can You Help?
- What Are The Origins Of The Surname - Berumen?

New Comment - Comments are editable for 5 min.