Meaning of Names
Nell Springer
Etymology 6th Period
April 30, 2015
The Origin of Names Names are something that everyone has in common. Everyone has a surname, but they all come from different times and places in history. Many families have had countless surnames in the past; however, only one stuck through the generations. A few people have a basic understanding of what their family names mean, but few know exactly when it originated. Paul Blake says, “'What is in a name? Very much if the wit of man could find it out.' Whoever penned this well known saying undoubtedly had it right.” Surnames can give people a glance into their family history and where and who they come from.
Surnames were unheard of until the Norman Conquest of Britain in the eleventh century, before which people were referred to by a personal name or nickname. This was easy to keep track of in small towns with few people; however, when populations started increasing, further titles were necessary to distinguish between individuals. People used defining characteristics or occupations as titles, such as John the butcher, or William the short. Others would take on the name of a parent, for instance Roger son of Richard, or Robb son of Ned. These names were not necessarily hereditary; however, some people of noble birth might take on the name of the place they ruled, which could be passed on to later generations.
Surnames were introduced into England after 1066 by the Norman barons. When they first began using them, people would change or drop their surnames at will; however, the titles began to stick after a time. “So trades, nicknames, places of origin, and fathers' names became fixed surnames - names such as Fletcher and Smith, Redhead and Swift, Green and Pickering, Wilkins and Johnson,” Paul Blake explains. By 1400 most English families had adopted the use of hereditary surnames, many of which stuck a considerable amount of time. Others, however, faded away or changed after only a few generations.
Titles
Etymology 6th Period
April 30, 2015
The Origin of Names Names are something that everyone has in common. Everyone has a surname, but they all come from different times and places in history. Many families have had countless surnames in the past; however, only one stuck through the generations. A few people have a basic understanding of what their family names mean, but few know exactly when it originated. Paul Blake says, “'What is in a name? Very much if the wit of man could find it out.' Whoever penned this well known saying undoubtedly had it right.” Surnames can give people a glance into their family history and where and who they come from.
Surnames were unheard of until the Norman Conquest of Britain in the eleventh century, before which people were referred to by a personal name or nickname. This was easy to keep track of in small towns with few people; however, when populations started increasing, further titles were necessary to distinguish between individuals. People used defining characteristics or occupations as titles, such as John the butcher, or William the short. Others would take on the name of a parent, for instance Roger son of Richard, or Robb son of Ned. These names were not necessarily hereditary; however, some people of noble birth might take on the name of the place they ruled, which could be passed on to later generations.
Surnames were introduced into England after 1066 by the Norman barons. When they first began using them, people would change or drop their surnames at will; however, the titles began to stick after a time. “So trades, nicknames, places of origin, and fathers' names became fixed surnames - names such as Fletcher and Smith, Redhead and Swift, Green and Pickering, Wilkins and Johnson,” Paul Blake explains. By 1400 most English families had adopted the use of hereditary surnames, many of which stuck a considerable amount of time. Others, however, faded away or changed after only a few generations.
Titles