Where do Last names orginiate from?

Question

In the time of Jesus last names where not used it was Joseph son of David. King Henry II last name was Tutor (Henry Tutor). But when did last names actually begin. In King Henry II's time was it only royalty? If so when did "commoner's" start using last names and how did they orginiate? If last names began before Henry II when and why?

Any insane history buffs out there...please fill my curiosity

I should also add...when? When did last names orginiate as well as how and where

Answer 1

This link will provide an easy explanation!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_name

Answer 2

In England, with the Doomsday book, I have read. In other countries, when the society got big enough to need to distinguish which "John" you meant. Many third-world countries still don't use them, at least out in the countryside. The Chinese have had family names for 3,000+ years. The Swedes didn't use family names until the mid-18th century. Olaf's son was Lars Olafson, Lars' son was Ole Larson, Ole's son was Peter Oleson, and so forth.

There are some broad categories of surnames.
Occupational, like Baker, Carpenter, Fletcher, Miller, Smith . . .
Patrynomic - Peterson, Larson, Anderson . . .
Physical - Armstrong, Little, Brown, Black, White . . . (those last three usually referred to hair color.)
Geographic, but I can't think of any specific towns except Jesus, who was sometimes called Jesus of Nazareth. Also Rivers, Banks, Hill, Meadows.

Answer 3

That's an excellent question, I wouldn't know exactly from when they originate but I can tell you the meaning of certain names.

From instance, if we take Davidson, we know that someone back , there was a man named David and he gave his son that second name. Often times people would get names from what they did ( work wise) or by paternal links.
Many french names evoke different objects, here's an example : Lapierre, this means : The rock. Most probably the person given this named might have worked with rocks?? It's pretty logical when you come to think of it.

Answer 4

Well, last names came along because the population got bigger and when you just said, "Joseph, son of David," they wouldn't know which David you were talking about. Origination comes from the country that their ancestors lived in. I've included a source where I'm sure you can find out more about it.
There is one more source that I tried to list but it was a little too long for me to list, so just e-mail me at [e-mail] and I can e-mail you the link if you would like it. :)

Answer 5

Last names began after the Middle Ages. In that time you were John's son. This evolved into Johnson. Last names are also often derived from occupations, such as carpenter, smith (blacksmith), farmer, miller, etc.

Answer 6

Last names began in different times for different cultures. I know how English and Spanish last names began.

English last names began when A King wanted to do a census so he ordered the people to take on a surename of their occupation (eg. Smith "Black Smith, glass, baker) this is how some English last names began and where Smith comes from.

Spanish last names began as groups of the elite in Spain began forming clans to set themselves apart. They started using the "son of" and later shortened it to be part of their name(eg. Sanchez in spanish means "son of Sancho") most Spainsh last names end in "ez" (Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Suarez) this is the meaning for "son of" so Rodriguez means "son of Rodrigo" and son on. that's how some of the Spanish last names began

Answer 7

"surname
c.1330, "name, title, or epithet added to a person's name," from sur "above" + name; modeled on Anglo-Fr. surnoun "surname" (c.1325), variant of O.Fr. surnom, from sur "over" + nom "name." Meaning "family name" is first found 1375. Hereditary surnames existed among Norman nobility in England in early 12c., among common people began to be used 13c., increasingly frequent until near universal by end of 14c. The process was later in the north of England than the south. The verb is attested from 1548. "

Answer 8

I have heard before -- and don't know if this is true or not -- that last names originated as a way to distinguish what people did for a living. That's why there are last names like "Carpenter", "Hunter", "Fisher", etc.

Don't take that to the bank, but I thought it was interesting.

Answer 9

It had to do w/ whose son you were or you job or position in life. Ericson was litteraly eric's son. baker was a baker. And your right royalty had something to do w/ the last names. Duke and so forth.

Answer 10

last names, in the english sense or tradition come from three places.
1- to whom you are son or daughter
2- from where you come
3- your occupation

Answer 11

Last name are something that tells others you are from THAT FAMILY. People die and their first name dies with them but once a last name is given that carries on forever.