2006-06-08 04:21:17 · 3 answers · asked by sam m 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
During the Middle Ages, peoples surnames identified them by their job or profession. This is where many Anglo-Saxon names come from. A man named Smith was the town blacksmith or silversmith, Tailor was the village tailor, Baker, Cooper, Shoemaker or Cobbler, etc.
2006-06-08 04:27:13 · answer #1 · answered by smartypants909 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they were born out of necessity. As time went on and populations grew you began to have too many people of the same given name in the same town. To distinguish them surnames became common. Usually surnames are derived from places, occupations or objects.
2006-06-08 14:54:21 · answer #2 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. They were born in society. Johnson was john's son. Baker was a baker, etc.
2006-06-08 11:25:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋