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Paper Abstract: History of the surname. Its use in European society between the 4th and 14th centuries. Primary purpose of distinguishing between individuals of the same Christian name. Connection of surnames to geographical places and types of labor. Use for tracking lineage. Different usage for people of monetary worth and for commoners. Nicknames. Paper Introduction: In an effort to classify the beginning of the current era in European History, scholars used to divide the medieval period into two separate parts, the Dark Ages (4th through 9th century) and the Middle Ages (up through 14th century). The use of the surname, one thing that was lost at the end of Roman Empire, or the beginning of the Dark Ages, was also an effort to classify, however in this case it was meant to distinguish between different individuals with the same given name. This paper will explore the history of the surname as its use re-emerged in European society between the 4th and the 14th centuries. During the peak of the Roman Empire, ancient Italy is estimated to have had a population of at least 6.7 million people from such diverse places as Bavaria, Provence, Albania, Greece, and even Brittania. This diverse population, coupled with a Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. 32.Morgan, Prys. Accessed March 29, 2 2. The use of the surname, one thing that was lostat the end of Roman Empire, or the beginning of the Dark Ages, was also aneffort to classify, however in this case it was meant to distinguishbetween different individuals with the same given name. In terms of meaning, however, "Daft" in Old English, referred to someonewho was sweet, where "Nice" meant someone who was foolish or simple [2 ]. Forexample, Mary Walsh would have come from Wales, where Siegrid Norris wouldhave been from Norway, and Betty Norman been from Normandy, in France[16].Again, surnames derived from such origins as place names were not always sosimple to classify. Available online at:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/4741/surnames.html.[4] Ibid.[5] Ibid.[6] Ibid.[7] Maddox, p. 4[15] "History of Last Names."[16] "History of Last Names."[17] Hey, p. 2 . "The Patronymic and the Matronymic in Sardinia: A Long-standing Competition." History of the Family. 15 TheNorton Anthology of English Literature: Volume 1. 14, iss. In this case, there would be John Inthelane (later probablyshortened to Lane), John Overthehill (or Overhill or Hill), and JohnAtthewood (Atwood)[14]. As Hey notes, at first only the aristocracy or people of somemonetary worth made use of surnames in an effort to track lineage forsuccession to land and rule[11]. Family Names and Family History. In such cases, a person might simply make up asurname by, for instance, combining two family names or place names[18].This would do the double duty of providing them with a surname amongcommoners in a city where a surname might distinguish them from othercommoners in need of employment and places to live. After the collapse, however, this practice was lost and notresurrected until at least six hundred years later in Venice. Vol. Other last names such as Sawyer, Tailor, Bishop, andCarpenter came from such a practice[13]. Such names could be "Merry", "Goode", "Joy", or "Sterne". Vol.5, iss. In times of political turmoil, for example, a lady-in-waiting or other royal servant might find themselves suddenly dismissedand among commoners. Broken ArrowPublishing. Norton & Company. 644, p. Thesuffix "-by", however, is an Old English term which refers to someone ofDanish descent who immigrated over or came over with William theConquerer[17]. In this way, people could speak of Thomas theMason (or Tom Mason) without getting him confused with Thomas the Miller(or Tom Miller). 29, iss. In Sweden, for instance,there may be several Sven Erikkson's, so that person will add his middle-name to become Sven Goran Eriksson. Broken Arrow Publishing. Ford, and David Daiches. February 19, 2 1. Forexample, in areas such as Sweden, surnames were derived almost entirely inreference to patrilineage[7], while in Wales, surnames were more apt to beassociated with a place[8]. 1979.Hey, David. Vol. In an effort to classify the beginning of the current era in EuropeanHistory, scholars used to divide the medieval period into two separateparts, the Dark Ages (4th through 9th century) and the Middle Ages (upthrough 14th century)[1]. As populations grew and spread and people either developed trades orimmigrated, however, a need to distinguish between commoners of the samegiven name began to emerge. W. For example, a meek man might be given the nickname or surname of"Dragon". 14, iss. 63.[9] Gianetta Murru-Corriga. Available online at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/4741/surnames.html.Maddox, Brenda. 1979. "The Patronymic and the Matronymic inSardinia: A Long-standing Competition." History of the Family. These surnames came from a variety of different places. 32.[3] "The History of Last Names." History of Surnames. 1, p. One record even shows an individual withthe surname of "Godbeourhelp." As Old English meanings frequently have beenlost over the generations, their origins are not always simple to discover. "The Strange Geography of Names." The New Statesman. It would also be ameans whereby they might separate themselves from, or connect themselveswith, anything to do with the current government. BibliographyAbrams, M. Thisdiverse population, coupled with a geography that encouraged endogamy(marrying within one's locale), helped to establish and create an elaboratethree-name system that included one's given name, clan name, and a familyname[3]. This paper willexplore the history of the surname as its use re-emerged in Europeansociety between the 4th and the 14th centuries. 1, p. Accessed March 29, 2 2. February 19, 2 1. The origin of particular surnames was not always as straightforward asplace name or lineage. John Davies who lives by the bridge[1 ]. London: HambledonPublishers, 2 1. It thenspread to France and onto parts of England, Germany, and Scandinavia[4].By the time William the Conquerer came to England in 1 66 C.E., surnameswere quite common in France and becoming more so in England and other partsof Europe[5]. London: Hambledon Publishers, 2 1."History of Last Names." History of Surnames. In Wales, there are many with the lastname of Davies, so letters will be addressed to individuals with an extraplace name added, such as Mrs. John Davies Bridge, to note that it is theMrs. This is much the same waythat surnames were first developed at the turn of the first millennium. 29, iss. 2 . One of the most significant ways in which surnames came about is bynickname. Fourth Edition. 2, p. 32[11] David Hey. 1.[2] Brenda Maddox. "The Place Name as Surname in Wales." National Libraryof Wales Journal. New York: W. Othernames could be more physically descriptive, such as "Long", "Stout","Beardsley" or "Short"[19]. NewYork: W. Talbot Donaldson, Hallett Smith, Robert M. P. While currently this has created a profusion of surnames in areaslike Sardinia and Italy, in areas such as Sweden and Wale, the consistencyof either place or father's name has created a lack of variety in theirsurname pool. 6[21] "History of Last Names."[22] Hey, p. 63.Murru-Corriga, Gianetta. Vol. 8[18] "History of Last Names."[19] "History of Last Names."[2 ] Hey, p. W. Ford, and David Daiches. 161.[1 ] Maddox, p. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Volume 1. This usually took the form of a suffix orprefix added to a father or grandfather's name. P. "Little John" of Robin Hood is another example, as he wasactually a very large individual. During the peak of the Roman Empire, ancient Italy is estimated tohave had a population of at least 6.7 million people from such diverseplaces as Bavaria, Provence, Albania, Greece, and even Brittania[2]. Abrams, E. 1995. Talbot Donaldson, Hallett Smith, Robert M. 644, p. London. By the advent of theRenaissance, surnames had become a permanent fixture in WesternCivilization. In an area where there might be anumber of farmers or shepherds, however, place names or nicknames were moreoften used. "The Strange Geography of Names." The New Statesman.London. In some cases, these nicknames were communityjokes. Vol. 5, iss 2, pp. 161-18 .-----------------------[1] M. 1995. Another term for these surnames was "renombres", Spanish for"renames"[6]. Those who immigrated to more distant parts might take on (or be givenby their neighbors) surnames reminiscent of their home country. Adams,Samuel Holt Monk, Lawrence Lipking, George H. Vol. As Hey discusses, some meanings of Old Englishsuffixes and prefixes denoting place and meaning have all but beenforgotten. Although taking on surnames was initially considered "Frenchified" andsuperfluous at the turn of the first millennium,[21] by the 14th centuryChurch and State records were using these surnames as a way of trackingwedding, birth, death, and tax records[22]. 32[8] Prys Morgan. This was also a time when not everyone knew how toread, so a surname might also be derived from the picture sign ofparticular building where someone worked or lived, such as a roadside inn.Such names could include "Chevrolet," which means "little goat" or"Blanchard," which means "white deer" or "white stag"[15]. Other places,such as Scotland, Ireland, and Holland, used a prefix, such as "Mac"Donald, "O" Brien, or "Van" Buren. H., General Editor, E. As noted by William Camden in Remaines of a Greater Worke ConcerningBritaine (1586), these surnames were not necessarily the names of the siresor fathers of people who were using them. For example, the last name "Oversby" may be assumed to bereferring to a place "overby" some particular part of the countryside. Family Names and Family History. Such places, even now, resort to middle names or nicknamesas a means of distinguishing between individuals. In some instances, such prefixes andsuffixes were attached to the traditional family holdings, estate, orfamily crest instead of the father's name[12]. "The Place Name as Surname in Wales." National Library of Wales Journal. H. 1 [12] "History of Last Names."[13] "The History of Last Names."[14] Hey, p. An example of aScandinavian suffix would be Sven Eriksson, noted earlier. In areas such as Sardinia, however, surnamescame from both the matrilineal side of the family, as well as thepatrilineal, resulting in a system where an individual may have as many asthree or four different surnames, a practice that is carried on evennow[9]. Adams, Samuel Holt Monk, Lawrence Lipking, George H. Norton & Company. Fourth Edition. There were called "surnames"because they were "super added" to the Christian names in an effort todistinguish between different individuals of the same name, such as "John"or "Mary". If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.