How did surnames/last names come about?

Question

Does anyone know how English surnames/last names came about? Such as Richards, Carr, Hawke, Gates, O' Sullivan, O' Malley, Edwards, Parker, Lang, Lawley, Anderson, Harvey, Nelson, etc? In AD 1000 no such surnames exist, so how exactly did they emerge?

PS: Pls give factual information - I'm very curious to know

Answer 1

I know that in Holland during the French occupation (early 1800s) surnames became obligatory, so people had to choose a surname if they didn't already have one. I suppose in England it happened around the same time.

Now, people often used their fathers name, so if it was John it became Johnson, if it was Edward Edwardson which became Edwards. The O' in Irish names I don't know, maybe it means Of (From). Further names of profession were used (Smith, Baker), names of places they were originally from (in dutch: "van" like van Eindhoven, van Dijk..), or just a colour (like in my name, which is Zwart meaning Black, maybe my ancestor had black hair or something), or anything else they could come up with.

In Holland some people jokingly took names like 'Naaktgeboren' meaning 'Born-naked' or Poepjes meaning Turds. These names still exist today

Answer 2

Mostly the were trades such as William the Thatcher. This became William Thatcher. In the early periods, as most people lived in small villages where everyone knew everyone else, a second name was hardly necessary . The term "surname" comes from the French "soeur", which could be regarded as "sire" as in father or Lord. Therefore you could have William, son of John, which could eventually lead to William Johnson . There is another type of surname that can cause confusion where the name seems to indicate a connection to the Peerage or even the Royal Family. This arises because some medieval peasants took their surname from their Lord or "sire" to indicate where they came from and to whom they held their loyalty. This type can also be applied to localities or even counties or countries. Peter the Scotsman could become Peter Scot or Scott.

Answer 3

Surnames roots are generally grouped into a few categories. Patronic or son of, such as Andrews, Anderson, or the Irish or Scottish McAndrew. Named for places of origin(York) or a unique geographical location (Brooke). Trade or occupational name(Carpenter or Smith). Physical attributes( Long, Black ). Lang(Lange) is usually the German spelling of Long.

Answer 4

This is just the end to this to read it in its original state got to the web link under source.Hope this answers your question.

So, in post Conquest England, in Europe, the Anglo domain name created new surname identities for younger Norman sons in particular, taking all the trappings of this vicious art form into their pastoral settings. The Normans overran Europe like a plague unto themselves. The domain surname became more firmly established as a protocol. Undoubtedly, their ancient Coat of Arms also found new roots. But this did not prevent them from tripping off to the fairs and jousts, particularly at Bruges, in addition to plundering the English countryside. They continued the Norman practice of contributing to Abbeys, monastries and churches to atone for their sins.

It was in this environment that the surname was born, a symbol of ownership, possessions, pride and greed. It would carry the posterity of the family name down though the centuries from the Orkneys to the Holy Land. The Norman surnames would have more opportunity for growth since they represented wealth, ownership and title, and were more motivated to establish posterities which would continue well into the distant future, for their dynasties and their descendants. They would fare better through the pestilences simply because they would be better equipped to resist. And the Norman strain bred like rabbits. They were accustomed to breed sons for the battle, and a little on the side for their own posterity. Many of these warriors died young, but suprisingly, many lived to be very old. Nevertheless, the spirit of the ancient family names prevailed. To quote noted anthropologist ErikTrinkaus of the University of New Mexico "It takes only a very subtle difference in life style to make a big difference in terms of evolutionary success"

Answer 5

As villages grew, "John" was no longer enough to identify who you meant. So, "John the Smith" or "John the Miller" or "John the Baker". 99% of the people in the village were farmers, so saying "John the Farmer" wouldn't help identify which one you meant. For farmers they used "John, William's son" or "John the Little" or "John with the strong arm" (Armstrong) or "John who lives by the River" (Rivers). Gradually the descriptions became surnames. If John moved to London the seek his fortune he might be "John from Cheshire" or "John from York". Back home in Cheshire EVERYONE was from Cheshire - except John York, who came out of London fed up with big city life - so they didn't use the surname "Cheshire" for the locals.

Answer 6

In England, the emergence of "surnames" (inherited from your father) as opposed to "bynames" (a second name or description to distinguish you from other people of the same given name) and "patronymics" (identification by who your father was), began as a result of the Norman conquest - especially with the formalization of names in the Domesday Book. However, the process was long and even as late as the 15th century, people were still using bynames and patronymics in some parts of the country.

As for your lists of names - I will look them up for you in the reference material I've got, but it may take some time.

BTW, O'Sullivan and O'Malley are not English surnames - they're Irish.

EDIT: Here they are:

Richards
Derived from a patronymic meaning “Richard’s Son”
“Richard” (Old German, meaning “powerful, brave”) was one of the most popular names introduced to England by the Normans.
Recorded as “Ricard” in the Domesday Book; usually Latinized as “Ricardus”.
First shows up as a surname in 1276 in the “Rotulil Hundreddorum” of London.
Other forms include: Richard, Richardes, Ritchard, Ricarde, Ricards, Riccard, Rickard, Rickardes, Rickards, Rickeard, Rickerd, Rickert, Ricket, Rickets, Rickett, Ricketts, Richelot, Rikelot, Rykelot, Ricot, Richer, and Richerus.


Carr
Also, Car, Ker, Kerr
Derived from a locative byname meaning “Dweller by the marsh, or fenny copse”
From the Middle English “kerr” and Old Norse “kjarr” meaning “Brushwood, wet ground”.
Early examples:
Osbert de Ker, c. 1200
Robert Ker, 1231
William Carre, 1279
John del Car, 1332
John atteKer, 1375


Hawke
Also, Hawke, Hawkes, Hawks, Hauke
Early examples:
Hauok, 1066,
Willelmus filius Hawoc, 1240
Roger Hauech’, 1176,
Robert Hauk, 1269
Walter le Hauek, 1296
Thomas Haukes, 1460
Osbertus filius Hauoc, 1115, is probably to be identified with Osbern Hauoc [who’s name appears in the same document]. His father bore the Old English name of Hafoc, meaning “hawk”.
In “le Hauek” we have clearly a nickname “hawk”, indicative of a savage or cruel disposition. Sometimes the simple “Hauoc” is used by metonymy for “hawker” [“falconer”], or with reference to the holding of land by providing hawks for the lord. In 1130 Ralph Hauoc owed the exchequer two ‘Girfals’, or gerfalcons/hawks. Hawkes may also be from “Hawkins” [a diminutive of “Hafoc”].
Or from “le Halk”, “atte Halk” derived from the Middle English “dweller at the corner”.


Gates
Also, Gate
Early examples:
Ailricus de la Gata, 1169
Ralph de Gates, 1206
Gilbert atte Gate, 1260
Cristina Gate, 1275
Richard Overthegate, 1379
Custancia del Gates, 1379
Meaning “dweller at [or by] the gates”, from the Old English “gatu”
In the Scandinavian areas we also have “gata”, Old Norse for “road”.


O' Sullivan
From the Gaelic “O” or “Ui” meaning “decendant of” and “Suileabhan” meaning “black-eyed”


O' Malley
Gaelic “Son [or decendant] of Mary” (Mall, Malle being pet forms of “Mary” in Irish Gaelic)


Edwards
Also, Edward, Edwardes
Early examples:
Eaduuardus, Eduuard, AEduuardus, 1006 (all from Domesday Book)
Edwardus serviens, 1206
William Edward, 1219
Cristina Edwardis, 1279
John Edwards, 1498
Derived from the Old English “Eadweard” meaning “prosperity-guard”


Parker
Also Parkers
Early examples:
Anschetil Parcher, 1086
Geoffery parchier, 1145
Clarica le Parkeres, 1327
Derived from the Anglo-French “parker” and the Old French “parquier”, meaning “one in charge of a park”


Lang
Also: Lange, Long, Lung
Early examples:
AEtheric thes Langa, 972
Leofwine Lange, 1070
Berard Long, 1121
Godfrey Lunge, 1179
Nicholas le Long, also written le Lung, 1290
William Lange, 1296
Adam the Langge, 1297
Derived from Old English, “lang” meaning “long, tall”.


Lawley
From the placename “Lawley” in Shropshire

Anderson
Also: Enderson
“Son of Andrew”
Henry Androsoun, 1443
John Andrewson, 1444
Robert Androwson, also written Androson, 1445
Thomas Anderson, 1471
Thomas Enderson, 1674


Harvey
Also: Harvie, Hervey
Early examples:
Herveus, 1086
Herueu de berruarius, 1086
Heruei de Castre, 1157
Willelmus filius Hervci, 1242
William Hervi, also written Herevi, 1190
Wiliam Hervy, 1232
Derived from the Old French “Herve” from the Old Breton “Aeruiu, Haerviu” meaning “Battle Worthy”. The name was introduced to English by the Bretons after the Conquest.


Nelson
“Son of Nell”
Early examples: John and Robert Nelleson, 1324.
(May either be a matronymic, referring to a mother named “Nell” or a patronymic referring to a father named “Neil”)