How do surnames originate?
Lat names started at different times in different parts of the world. Surnames, for the most part, drew their meanings from the lives of men in the Middle Ages, and their origins can be divided into four main categories: OCCUPATIONS Many names as you probably already know like Baker, Farmer, Miller, and Carpenter are names that reflect the persons trade. PLACES Other names especially names in the Netherlands are reflective of places. The prefix “van” means from and “van der” means “from the” like van Heukelem, van Appeldorn, van Dijk, etc. Other examples of place names are Westwood, Parris, Springfield, and Holland. PATRONYMIC English and Scandinavian names ending in “son” are patronymic surnames, as are many names prefixed with the Gaelic “Mac,” the Norman “Fitz,” the Irish “O,” and the Welsh “ap.” Examples Erickson, Williamson, and Ellison, O’Neil, O’Brien, Hendriks, Williams, McDonald etc DESCRIPTIVE These are derived from a physical or other characteristic of first bearer. They mak
