The surname is a representative of the family name, which is passed down the male line from generation to generation. In terms of its historical significance, the usage of the surname is relatively new. The convention was adopted in order to distinguish people who may have had the same first name. Initially this was not passed down the generations and was simply used as a function for distinguishing different people.
It is believed that the Chinese were amongst the first civilisations to adopt this convention of the use of hereditary surnames, which is thought to have been about 5,000 years ago. The use of the surname was not utilised in European culture until 10th and 11th Century, which stemmed from the historical city of Venice. After this it became custom for members of the gentry and aristocracy to utilise this custom of the hereditary surname until it became a common tradition for everyone of all classes to pass on their surname.
Surnames were generally derived from one of four sources: Patronymic (which was sourced from the father’s name, their ancestral origin or place of birth, occupation or social status and nicknames that often revealed personal or physical traits. For instance if your surname is a patronymic derivative, then it will take the format of ‘Peters’ which is an English format, or similarly ‘Peterson’ which translates simply to ‘Son of Peter’ , which is Swedish.
Additionally, if you were Scottish then it would have started with ‘Mac’ or if you were Irish the name would have had an ‘O’ before it; both meaning ‘Son of’. If your name revealed a place or distinctive features of the locality then the surname would take the format of ‘Cliff’ which means steep hill or ‘KirkPatrick which represents the church (kirk) of St. Patrick. Furthermore if you were a Smith of a Cooper then this often denoted your occupation, Smith standing for a blacksmith and Copper representing a barrel maker. Finally, if you were an Armstrong or a Small, this probably would have represented physical features such as strong arms of body size.
It is believed that the Chinese were amongst the first civilisations to adopt this convention of the use of hereditary surnames, which is thought to have been about 5,000 years ago. The use of the surname was not utilised in European culture until 10th and 11th Century, which stemmed from the historical city of Venice. After this it became custom for members of the gentry and aristocracy to utilise this custom of the hereditary surname until it became a common tradition for everyone of all classes to pass on their surname.
Surnames were generally derived from one of four sources: Patronymic (which was sourced from the father’s name, their ancestral origin or place of birth, occupation or social status and nicknames that often revealed personal or physical traits. For instance if your surname is a patronymic derivative, then it will take the format of ‘Peters’ which is an English format, or similarly ‘Peterson’ which translates simply to ‘Son of Peter’ , which is Swedish.
Additionally, if you were Scottish then it would have started with ‘Mac’ or if you were Irish the name would have had an ‘O’ before it; both meaning ‘Son of’. If your name revealed a place or distinctive features of the locality then the surname would take the format of ‘Cliff’ which means steep hill or ‘KirkPatrick which represents the church (kirk) of St. Patrick. Furthermore if you were a Smith of a Cooper then this often denoted your occupation, Smith standing for a blacksmith and Copper representing a barrel maker. Finally, if you were an Armstrong or a Small, this probably would have represented physical features such as strong arms of body size.
