"Son" in a name?

Question

It appears that many names have the word "son" in them. I'm guessing that Robertson means "Robert's son." Is this true? And does Van der Bilt mean "Bilt's son" and McIntire "Intire's son"?

Answer 1

The "son" part is true. "Van der", along with "de la" and other prefixes, means "of the".

Answer 2

"Son" at the end of a last or surname is a patronymic common among Lowland Scots, the Scots-Irish, and Northern English as well as Scandinavians; for example, Johnson, Robertson, Robinson, Henderson, and Wilson are all names that could be of Scots' origin, although the Scottish version of Johnson is usually "Johnston". Similarly, last names like Hanson, Swenson, Nelson, and Olsen ordinarily show Swedish or Norwegian ancestry.

During the Middle Ages, middle-class families started to adopt family names in England and Lowland Scotland. Accordingly, the names Robertson and Robinson could mean that one is descended from Robert's son. Similarly, any one with a name beginning with "Mc" or "Mac" is a descendant of someone of either Highland Scots or Irish origin with a first name like "Donald" or "Callum" or else a follower of a clan chief, although not necessarily related, and thus attached to his clan. The spelling of Scottish and Irish clan names tends to change over time as the Gaelic becomes Anglicized. An "O" before a surname name.also means "son of"; for example, O'Reilly means son of Reilly.

On the other hand, Vanderbilt (from Van de Bylt or Die Byltye) is of Dutch origin, meaning that an ancestor was probably a ship's carpenter. A whole class of last names is derived from occupations. For instance, Smith, Miller, Carpenter, Baker, and Brewer all take their names from what some one a long time ago probably did for a living. A version of these names is common in most European countries. Someone with the last name of Smith could have been of English, Scots, or German orgin.

Answer 3

the english had the habit of getting their names from what they did like the last name smith meant that they were a blacksmith so the irish and scottish probably did that too.

Answer 4

Sure.
Taylors made clothes.
Bakers baked bread.
Masons built brick houses.

I believe Indians named their children after things that were memerable. eg: Rolling Thunder, Raging Bull, dancing wolf, etc.

Answer 5

To the best of my knowledge "son" means "son of". I think "son" is used more in Sweden and "sen" in Norway.

BTW, in the old days girls took their father's name, as in the book, "Kristin Lavransdatter".