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- Hereditary Names Categories
- Patronymics
- Occupational Names
- Place Names
- Nicknames
- Naming Practice Exceptions
Naming practices developed differently from region to region and country to country. Yet even today hereditary names tend to fall into one of four categories: patronymic (named from the father), occupational, nickname or place name. According to Elsdon Smith, author of American Surnames(Genealogical Publishing Co.), a survey of some 7,000 surnames ...
Virtually every culture seemed to have some form of patronymic system, though some relied on it more heavily than others. In Ireland, the Scottish highlands, Wales and Spain, the majority of names are patronymics; the same was true in Scandinavia, though these have additional complications that we’ll dicuss later. Here are the most common clues to ...
Surnames derived from occupations figure prominently on the list of America’s most common surnames (see below), including Smith, Miller, Taylor, Clark, Walker, Wright, Baker, Carter, Stewart, Turner, Parker, Cook and Cooper. During the Middle Ages, it was useful to distinguish John the baker from John the tailor. The occupations were fairly common ...
Surnames sprang from place names in several ways: when someone was associated with or living near or by a particular hill, brook, bush, dale, valley, island, bridge, meadow, road or village; when the person was known as coming from a particular locality; and when the individual owned a manor or village. Place-derived surnames dominate in England an...
The word “nickname” is derived from “an eke name,” or added name. In a sense all surnames began as extra names, so technically speaking, all surnames are nicknames of one sort or another. In our classification scheme, hereditary family names based on nicknames often describe an ancestor’s appearance (stature, hair, eyes, complexion, size), a charac...
Naming practices among some cultural groups don’t fall neatly into these four categories. Here are some noteworthy exceptions to keep in mind as you go surname-sleuthing:
- Barbara Krasner-Khait
Jul 8, 2023 · Your surname can lead you on a journey through your heritage and, potentially, guide you towards where your earliest ancestors lived or what they did for a living. Take a look at how surnames got their start in different parts of the world and how they are not the same as last names.
Explore 31 million surname origins, meanings, distribution maps and demographics @ Forebears, the largest database of last names.
Name - Surnames, Origins, Meanings: Family names came into use in the later Middle Ages (beginning roughly in the 11th century); the process was completed by the end of the 16th century. The use of family names seems to have originated in aristocratic families and in big cities, where they developed from original individual surnames when the ...
- Ladislav Zgusta
Jun 6, 2024 · Topographical surnames such as Hill, Forest, and Rivers are based on natural features, while locational surnames like London, York, and Kent indicate a person’s place of origin or residence. These names often helped identify where someone lived or where they came from.
Jun 4, 2024 · |. Where do surnames come from? Read on below for to find answers to surname origins. These tips are perfect for family historians wishing to learn more about their family names. Knowing about your surname is interesting - and also provides really valuable clues to help with family history research.
