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Etymology Of Last Names
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Published: October 5, 2006
What's in a name?
Smith, Thompson, Woods, Fitzpatrick – what is your name? Specifically, what is your last name?
Also known as a surname or family name, this is the name passed down through generations. It is the name a woman takes when she marries. But where did the last name come from?
Etymology, the study of word origins, provides four distinct categories of the origination of last names.
The first category is surnames deriving from first names. These are either Patronymic, names coming from the father, or Matronymic, names coming from the mother. Examples include "Son of" names: Johnson, Jackson and Thompson (John's son and Tom's son), and Williams (William's, possessive). Other examples of Patronymics include Erickson or Erikson, Fitzpatrick and O'Brien.
Other surnames come from occupations. Baker, Miller, Smith, Butler and Carpenter are all based on the occupations of the early people who were given these names. Bakers made pastries, Millers worked in mills, Smiths worked as blacksmiths, Butlers were servants and Carpenters were woodworkers. Cook and Hunter are other examples of occupational surnames.
Then there are the locational surnames. These names probably were given to people based on where they lived at the time. Names like Woods and Hill are examples of locational surnames.
Finally there are the names based on nicknames, personality traits or appearances. Surnames based on color can still be found in today's society. White, Black, Brown and Green all are based on appearances. Also there are names like Beard, Gay (a happy person), Long (a tall person), Sharp (someone who is quick, smart or active), Swann (person of excellent purity), Sweet and Young.
Never be shy or embarrassed about your last name. Be proud of your last name. There is probably a story behind where your last name came from, detailing your own ancestral history.
Sources:
Campbell, Mike. "About Surnames." Behind the Name: Etymology and History of Surnames. Copyright 2006. Behindthename.com. October 4, 2006. http://surnames.behindthename.com/intro.php
"Etymology of Last Names." English Wiz. Copyright 2002. EnglishWiz.com. October 4, 2006.
http://mizian.com.ne.kr/englishwiz/library/names /etymology_of_last_names.htm#W
Wikipedia. "Etymology" Wikimedia Foundation. October 3, 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 4, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology
Smith, Thompson, Woods, Fitzpatrick – what is your name? Specifically, what is your last name?
Also known as a surname or family name, this is the name passed down through generations. It is the name a woman takes when she marries. But where did the last name come from?
Etymology, the study of word origins, provides four distinct categories of the origination of last names.
The first category is surnames deriving from first names. These are either Patronymic, names coming from the father, or Matronymic, names coming from the mother. Examples include "Son of" names: Johnson, Jackson and Thompson (John's son and Tom's son), and Williams (William's, possessive). Other examples of Patronymics include Erickson or Erikson, Fitzpatrick and O'Brien.
Other surnames come from occupations. Baker, Miller, Smith, Butler and Carpenter are all based on the occupations of the early people who were given these names. Bakers made pastries, Millers worked in mills, Smiths worked as blacksmiths, Butlers were servants and Carpenters were woodworkers. Cook and Hunter are other examples of occupational surnames.
Then there are the locational surnames. These names probably were given to people based on where they lived at the time. Names like Woods and Hill are examples of locational surnames.
Finally there are the names based on nicknames, personality traits or appearances. Surnames based on color can still be found in today's society. White, Black, Brown and Green all are based on appearances. Also there are names like Beard, Gay (a happy person), Long (a tall person), Sharp (someone who is quick, smart or active), Swann (person of excellent purity), Sweet and Young.
Never be shy or embarrassed about your last name. Be proud of your last name. There is probably a story behind where your last name came from, detailing your own ancestral history.
Sources:
Campbell, Mike. "About Surnames." Behind the Name: Etymology and History of Surnames. Copyright 2006. Behindthename.com. October 4, 2006. http://surnames.behindthename.com/intro.php
"Etymology of Last Names." English Wiz. Copyright 2002. EnglishWiz.com. October 4, 2006.
http://mizian.com.ne.kr/englishwiz/library/names /etymology_of_last_names.htm#W
Wikipedia. "Etymology" Wikimedia Foundation. October 3, 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 4, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology
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