{"id":7605,"date":"2014-07-07T15:23:16","date_gmt":"2014-07-07T15:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=7605"},"modified":"2023-11-02T14:20:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T18:20:18","slug":"meanings-of-family-surnames-exploring-origins-of-last-names","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/meanings-of-family-surnames-exploring-origins-of-last-names.html","title":{"rendered":"Meanings of Family Surnames: Exploring Origins of Last Names"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak discusses the origins and meanings of various family surnames, and shows how including the origins of your family surnames in your genealogy research may reveal intriguing clues about your ancestry. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Ever wonder about the origin of your family surname? If so, you are not alone.<\/p>\n

Many people would like to learn about their family surname, but don\u2019t know where to look for more information. Fortunately, historical and modern newspapers frequently have articles about last names. In addition, you can find out your last name meaning<\/a> by tracing its roots.<\/p>\n

Crispin\u2019s French Origins<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many newspaper articles discuss the meaning of specific surnames, such as this 1871 piece on the surname Crispin. The patron saint of shoemakers was St. Crispin, which is derived from the French term \u201ccrepin,\u201d which means a shoemaker\u2019s last (mechanical form in the shape of a foot). (See http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Last<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Massachusetts Spy (Worcester, Massachusetts), 8 September 1871, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other historical newspaper articles discuss the etymology or nomenclature of surnames, which is the study of their origins. Where did particular names come from? How were they assigned? Is there a special meaning behind them? All of these are interesting components for your genealogical research and can lead to a deeper understanding of your familial roots.<\/p>\n

The First English Surnames<\/strong><\/p>\n

This 1893 newspaper article reports that the first English surname was adopted in the reign of King Edward the Confessor of England, who ruled between 1042 and 1066. If correct, this first surname was probably for a nobleman and most likely established to carry on hereditary rights (titles, and later property).<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Bay City Times (Bay City, Michigan), 30 June 1893, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This 1823 newspaper article also reports that surnames were first adopted in the 11th century in England, and \u201cfor the distinction of families in which they were to continue hereditary.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old news article notes that the term \u201csurname\u201d came not from the word \u201csire,\u201d but from a French concept indicating a super-addendum (or additional name added to one\u2019s religious or Christian name). Of course, surnames weren\u2019t just required for Christians, but for every culture and religion.<\/p>\n

\"Origin<\/a>
Rhode-Island American (Providence, Rhode Island), 4 November 1823, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Patronymics and Matronymics<\/strong><\/p>\n

As human populations grew, there needed to be a system to identify individuals. Each country chose their own method, and within a society, a religious group or individualized group, some might have chosen their own unique system.<\/p>\n

One early naming identification method was to associate a son\u2019s surname with a father\u2019s first name, and a daughter\u2019s with her mother\u2019s.<\/p>\n

This is known as patronymics and matronymics, and if you ever come across a person with just one name, this is called mononymics (usually associated with rulers or famous individuals). See Wikipedia\u2019s article on patronymics: http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Patronymic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A Look at Surnames around the World<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depending upon cultural customs, a specific spelling or pattern for the name was designated.<\/p>\n

In most cases the surname was modified, but in some cases the name was constructed differently. In some parts of Asia for example, the surname is given first, rather than last\u2014and in other places, another word is inserted to indicate the family relationship.<\/p>\n

Hebrew:<\/strong> One culture where you will find examples of this practice of word insertion in names is with the Jews. Hebrew names are often expressed with the use of \u201cben,\u201d meaning son of, or with \u201cbint,\u201d meaning daughter of.<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Rhode-Island American (Providence, Rhode Island), 4 November 1823, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ireland:<\/strong> Watch for names such as Fitzgerald\u2014the \u201cfitz\u201d indicates that someone was the son of Gerald. According to Behind the Name\u2019s website, this particular surname came from the Anglo-Norman French and was introduced to Ireland at the time of William the Conqueror.<\/p>\n

Netherlands:<\/strong> Dutch patronymics can carry on for several generations. The Dutch Wikipedia explanation is that a \u201cWillem Peter Adriaan Jan Verschuren would be Willem, son of Peter, son of Adriaan, son of Jan Verschuren.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poland:<\/strong> A common way to express a son\u2019s last name is by the use of \u201cwicz\u201d at the end. Correspondingly, \u201c\u00f3wna\u201d or \u201c\u2019anka\u201d may be used for an unmarried daughter, and \u201cowa\u201d or \u201c\u2019ina\u201d for a married woman or widow.<\/p>\n

Wikipedia\u2019s article at http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Polish_name<\/a> gives the example of a man with the last name of Nowak. His unmarried daughter would use Nowak\u00f3wna and his wife or widow would use Nowakowa.<\/p>\n

If you encounter a name ending in \u201cski,\u201d the person is a male. If you see \u201cska\u201d at the end, the person is female. There are many other variations, including \u201cwicz,\u201d \u201cowicz,\u201d \u201cewicz,\u201d and \u201cycz\u201d which can be added to a name, along with diminutives (similar to calling someone \u201clittle\u201d as a pet name). See About.com\u2019s article at http:\/\/genealogy.about.com\/cs\/surname\/a\/polish_surnames.htm<\/a> for more examples.<\/p>\n

Scandinavia:<\/strong> \u201cSon\u201d or \u201cdotter\u201d or \u201cdottir\u201d is a common addition for boys and girls names, and there are slight spelling variations from country to country. Although most of Scandinavia no longer practices patronymics, you may still see it in Iceland.<\/p>\n

Examples: a daughter of a man named Sven might use the surname Svensdottir, and Leif Ericson, the famous Norse explorer, has a name that identifies him as the son of an Eric (Erik the Red.) See http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leif_Erikson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Naming<\/a>
National Advocate (New York, New York) 28 November 1828, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Spain\/Portugal:<\/strong> Although it doesn\u2019t mean son, \u201cez\u201d (Spain) and \u201ces\u201d (Portugal) are used to indicate males, such as with the names Gonzales or Hernandez. See the article on Spanish patronymics at http:\/\/spanishlinguist.us\/2013\/08\/spanish-patronymics\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wales:<\/strong> Over time, there have been several variations of name usage in Wales. Sometimes you\u2019ll find that the surnames of children were an unmodified version of the father\u2019s name. A son Rees might be named James Rees. Another option related to the terms \u201cap\u201d (son of) or \u201cverch\/ferch\u201d (daughter of). The name Madog ap Rhys would be interpreted as Madog, the son of Rhys, and Maredudd ferch Rhys would be Maredudd, the daughter of Rhys.<\/p>\n

To complicate matters, a name might indicate if a woman were the first or second wife of a man, or a widow.<\/p>\n

For an in-depth explanation, see Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn\u2019s article \u201cWomen\u2019s Names in the First Half of 16th Century Wales (with particular attention to the surnames of married women).\u201d<\/p>\n

These are just some of the many types of matronyms and patronyms that you might find while researching your ancestry, so be sure to investigate your ancestral countries further.<\/p>\n

Naming by Association (towns, physical attributes, etc.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

We can thank the practice of taxation for other methods of assigning surnames, some of which are attributed to the English poll taxes of 1377, 1379 and 1381.<\/p>\n

See \u201cThe English Poll Taxes, 1377-1381\u201d by George Redmonds, 28 March 2002, published online by American Ancestors.org at www.americanancestors.org\/the-english-poll-taxes-1377-1381\/<\/span>.<\/p>\n

In order to keep track of who owed what taxes, names were recorded on the tax rolls in a variety of ways. Some people were associated with their villages, others by trades or occupations; for example, Taylor last name origin<\/a> comes from the occupational name for a tailor. In addition, others were associated by distinguishing features or attributes such as a very tall, or blind, man.<\/p>\n

Most Common Surnames by Country<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are stuck on the origins of your last name, consider the commonality of names in specific places.<\/p>\n

Most of us are aware that Smith and Jones (Discover Jones last name origin<\/a>!) are among the most familiar U.S. surnames, but what about other countries?<\/p>\n

Wikipedia\u2019s article List of the Most Common Surnames in Europe<\/em> has an interesting list, some of which I\u2019ve included below. See http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_the_most_common_surnames_in_Europe<\/a>.<\/p>\n