How did we end up with last names?

Answer 1

The basic concept BEHIND "last names" (to more specifically identify people) is ancient.

The practice of adopting "last names" or "surnames" as we know it (that is as a hereditary family name) has developed independently in various times and places.

Note this distinction -- not all last names or additional names [which is what "surname" means] are hereditary. In fact, they
were at first simply applied to an individual to specify "which John" was meant. Only later did they became hereditary, and so the true FAMILY name- last names we know today.

The earliest known case of established hereditary surnames was in China, where the use of family names was decreed around 2852 B.C. But there is no evidence the Chinese practice had any influence on the development of surnames elsewhere.

In the West there are two significant historical instances of surnames developing. The first was at the height of the Roman Empire, but it died out toward the end. It was NOT the origin of modern European surnames; they arose again independently.

The "modern" use of hereditary surnames in Europe began around AD 1000 in Venice, and gradually spread across Europe through the next few centuries (though some countries, such as the Scandinavian lands, did not fully adopt the practice till the 19th century).

Much of the reason for this is simple practical necessity. For example, as urban areas grew there was more need to disinguish "which John" was being referred to. Beyond simple conversation though, there was LEGAL & governmental need - to specify ownership of property, for the proper collection of debts and taxes, things no one wanted there to be confusion about! (unless you like paying someone else's taxes and having them claim title to your property!)

Not surprisingly, it was people of wealth and status -- major landowners and those claiming authority by descent -- who were the first to pass on their 'last names'. (But note that this did/does not always work as it does with modern family surnames. Some of these were TITLES, such as "Lord of [ESTATE NAME]" which for various reasons [e.g., lack of a son!] might be passed to someone else outside the immediate family.)

There are four common sources for our surnames:

1) place names - place of origin of individual or family - in Europe this was probably the first type of HEREDITARY surname. (Since people did not move around a lot it was easy for this name to be 'passed on' to offspring.)

2) patryonymics - name of father (occasionally matronymics); at first used only for one's own immediate father, only later did it become hereditary (so referring to a more distant ancestor), though people of station might use "son of [NAME OF ANCESTOR]" in order to make a claim.

3) occupation - again, used first for the individual, though the fact that many sons adopted their father's profession made it workable as a hereditary name.

4) nickname - a catchall category, including descriptions of all sorts, esp. of physical and personality traits. (Again, such names would apply best to an individual, though some of the features might well continue to be found in his offspring.)

Note that all these sorts of naming practices have been used for millenia by various cultures, even when there is no established or hereditary (family) surname. Some simple examples may be found in the New Testament, where we find the "Jesus" of the gospels (keep in mind that this was a COMMON Hebrew name) called "Jesus son of Joseph", "Jesus of Nazareth" "Jesus the carpenter [or 'the carpenter's son']" (many other examples of the first two, esp. "son of", cf. "Mary of Magadala" (later "Mary Magdalene")). (There is also the use of an ancestor's name -- "son of David" -- to identify him as a descendant of King David, which is important to the claim that promises made to David are given to him.)


Good overviews of the history, including how and when surnames were adopted in various places
http://www.mayrand.org/meaning-e.htm
(includes helpful HISTORY of giving of surnames, naming practices in various countries)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_name

Briefer discussions, with interesting tidbits (including examples of various types of surnames, common names' lists):
http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/
http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/archive/oldnews2/surname.htm
http://www.last-names.net/Articles/Anatomy.asp
http://www.allinaname.com/art004.html
http://dusty.dyndns.org/genealogy/text/surnames.htm

Answer 2

No that may not real. If a final call leads to guy it somewhat is English, German, Sweden, quite some places not in basic terms Jewish. usually it somewhat is a relatives call that has been surpassed down as a trades individual of a few type. Sunshine G.

Answer 3

It used to be that everyone knew everyone in their little clan group and last names were not needed. When clans started meeting, it was something like Gran of the River clan.

As civilization progressed, last names were more needed. Some people picked last names related to the professions (like Cooper, Smith, Farmer) and others got last names related to their fathers (Anderson, Smithson, Robertson, etc.). Others chose last names related to where they lived (names ending in -ton or -berg). At first the names changed with each generation, but they became clan or family names fairly quickly because of record-keeping. Much easier to keep accurate records if people have family names.

Difference cultures have different rules on family names, but the major reasons for them existing are the same. Record-keeping, easy identification of individuals, etc.

Answer 4

Hi,

In Ancient cultures, all persons used do introduce themselves with their name and their father´s name.

Or with qualities, like "Alexander the great".

From that, in some places the persons ware introduced with their home land.

That´s how I ended up with the name Charles Dalla Costa, wich means "near the sea" in Italian.

Answer 5

Originally people were associated by Clan, Caste, Occupation, Region and Family which produced what we now call surnames. That allowed first names to become more common and wide spread. Hence Maria del Rivera is Mary who was born and raised by the local river. Ludovico Venchinza is Ludvig from Venchinza. Sometime a male would become a famous war hero and his name would become a preferred calling card for subsequent generations, etc.

Answer 6

Many names originally came from someone's occupation, like Miller, Farmer, Cooper, Carpenter. Since children used to pretty much stay in the same job as their father, it became useful to refer to them that way.

Answer 7

I think it came from the trade of our families, such as if your family were blacksmiths you would be called Smith etc.
This also applies to the roads that we live down - golden close = a person who makes jewelery out of gold =-)
Hope this Helps

Answer 8

There are various ways Last names are established. Some were originally an Ancestors trade like "Smith" or "Miller."
Scotch and Irish traditions are similar in that they would take the first name of a Predecessor and place an "O" or a "Mc" before it signifying "Son of" or "House of" like O'Brien or McGregor for example.

Answer 9

we have last names to group us with our family and to keep a lineage going without them everyone would be confused and also if 2 ppl had the same name telling them apart would be difficult

Answer 10

So you could be identified for the tax collectors