What's In A Name??

The day before I created this page, we had a family reunion. Among the family members who were looking at papers about our ancestors, was my great-nephew. He had shown great interest in these papers, especially one that had explained the start of surnames.

So I thought I should put something about this in my web page.

Until about 1100 A.D. most people in Europe only had one name. As populations increased, villages had up to 1/3 of it's population with the name of John or William, or so forth.

And so to distinguish one John from another, a second name was needed. There were three main ways that one could recieve his last name.

1. Location:

The John who lived over the hill became known as John Overhill, and the one who was settled at the stream might be known as John Atbrook, John Brook, or John Stream.

2. Characteristics:

For example a shorter person may be known as John Small, John Little, John Short, or so forth.

3. Occupation:

The local house builder, food preparer, grain grinder and suit maker might be named; John Carpenter, John Cook, John Miller, and John Taylor.

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