Surname
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (December 2007) |
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a "surname" is a family name; the family-name meaning first appeared in 1375.[1] Many dictionaries use "surname" as a synonym of "family name." [2]
Surnames are often influenced by common elements: the name of the person's father or mother, the person's geographical origin, the person's occupation, or a descriptive nickname for the person. When they were created, they answered one of the following questions: Who is this person related to? Where is this person from? What does this person do for a living? What is his or her most prominent feature?[3][4]
For instance, the names Smith and Cooper may originate from the blacksmith and cooper metal work occupations, respectively. Names such as Cohen, may denote a prominent religious background; Cohen is a name usually found among male descendants of Jewish priests.
[edit] References
- ^ "surname." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 10 Dec. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/surname>.
- ^ <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/surname>
- ^ Scottish Surnames<http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?560>
- ^ <Last Names Dictionary http://www.last-names.net/Articles/Anatomy.asp>
