The history and origin of British surnames

-Occupational surnames-

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as
sweet are famous Shakespeares lines from his play Romeo and Juliet, which claim that it is
much more important who you are than what your name is. On the other hand, some people
would agree that NOMEN EST OMEN and in accordance with that saying, they would
choose the proper name for their children or make prejudices about others. But, there is one
thing that cant be decided on but which is already given to us by birth and that is our
surname. The very name of a surname means an extra name, over and above the personal
name (sur-from the Latin super and the French sur, both meaning above, on, over)
To review the sources of peoples names certainly means to look back to that peoples
history. Nomenclature, in fact, is a well in which, as the fresh water is flowing perennially
through, there is left a sediment that clings to the bottom. This salty deposit may accumulatenay, it may threaten to coke it up, still the well is there. It but requires to be exhumed, and we
shall behold it in all its simple proportions once more. And thus it is with names.1 In order to
understand English surnames, we have to cast a glance at the conditions prevailing in England
after William the Conqueror (1028-1087), because it was then that the custom of using
surnames began. Invasions, the rise of large towns and growing population undoubtedly had
the greatest impact on introducing the fashion of having surnames. Actually, it was not the
fashion, but the necessity since the aforementioned events made it difficult for people to
recognize the individual who bore only one, first name. Common names, such as John and
Thomas, always made confusion among people and the thing which had been found
convenient was giving some nickname so as to make the identification easier. Nicknames
were taken from various sources- physical appearance (William the Short) , counties (Henry
from Sutton), trades (John the Butcher), heraldic charges, etc. Originally, surnames were only
borne by nobles and sometimes they were preceded by de, as in modern French or the fathers
name preceded by fitz (from French fils-son).

1Bardsley Charles W,English Surnames:Their Sources and Significations,

David&Charles Reprints, London, 1875
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After 1066, the Normans introduced surnames into England and by 1400 most English
families adopted the use of hereditary names. At first, trades, nicknames, places of origin, and
fathers' names became fixed surnames ( Fletcher, Smith, Redhead, Swift, Green, Wilkins,
Johnson); some Saxon and Celtic names simply disappeared quickly after the Norman
invasion (Oslaf, Oslac, Oswald, Oswin, Osway, os meaning God). New surnames continued
to be formed; many families changed their names in order to get a new surname, but there
were also those who stuck to their previous names and sobriquets (The word sobriquet is of
French origin and its definition taken from Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary is the
name given to someone or something which is not their real or official name; nickname). As
surnames became popular at a late period in history, there is not much evidence of the earliest
examples. Some of the scarce early documentary evidence is Domesday Book, from 1086 and
also The Hundred Rolls, published two centuries later. Four centuries ago, William Camden in
his Britannia showed the importance of interest in surname etymology and it was not until the
middle of 19th century that Trenchs Study of Words aroused that interest and their origin
received any consideration. Since then, numerous books and articles have been written on that
topic and today it still seems to attract philologists, historians, etymologists, but ordinary
people as well.
In England alone, there are around 45,000 surnames (if we take into account different
spellings of one surname) and according to their origin they can be roughly classified into five
large groups:
1) Local surnames (place of origin or present address):
Washington, Warwick, Lakeman
2) Occupation surnames or office
Wheeler, Piper, Joiner (carpenter)
3) Surnames of fathers or ancestors name
Johnson, Robertson, Wilkerson
4) Surnames from all sobriquets
Oldman, Smallman, Goodman
5) Surnames from personal name ( including Biblical and saints names)
John, Harry, Peter

Although surnames deriving from place of origin are the oldest and the most common,
the most interesting and perhaps the least visible ones are certainly those surnames which
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were given to craftsmen and officials. The most used suffix denoting trade or occupation was
er and -ier, with the feminine ster. Although it is obvious that there are similarities between
a medieval Englishman and his descendants (through ages, merchants had their associations,
craftsmens guilds continued to be formed, manufacturers still used the same, although
modern, tools and machines, etc.), there is also much difference. Some of the trades, such as
Armourers, Water Leaders, Bowers and Fletchers have long since disappeared. The same
situation is with Penniger and Scottish Bannermann, whose duty was to bear aloft the sign of
the Lord whose retainer he was. However, their surnames, often changed through ages,
remind people of their importance at that time and also of their dignity. The name of an officer
in the houses of important nobles, seneschal, gave two surnames, Seneschal and Gottschalk
(Gods servant). The surnames le Speller and le Spiller remind us of great orators and spellbinders and they are of Old English origin (spell, a discourse). Among other household
officers we can find le Panter, le Suur (Sewer), le Karver (Carver), le Page. Le Panter was in
charge of bread (food) and Sewer served the food (from Anglo-Norman asseour,
from asseer, to seat guests). Le Karver was in charge of all manner of pottages, metes and
sauces(according to an ancient book on carving). Le Page stood behind his lord at the table
and held his cup. Since people didnt use forks at that time, the services of Ewer and Napper
were indispensable. The former would bring water in a bowl or ewer and the latter a napkin,
so that those who had finished their meal could wash and wipe their hands. The surnames
derived from these positions were also Ewere, Naper, le Nappere, Napier. Le Hirde probably
got his surname from his labour with herds or flocks, and in accordance with this fashion, the
English got the surnames like Shepherd, Oxherd, Cowhirde, Swinhirde, Swonherde,
Gooseherd, Hoggart, etc. Instead of the suffix hird, some of these animal names are
compounded with the suffix man, so we have Cowman, Bullman, Heiferman, etc. The
servants of priests or monks were also named in a similar pattern, so their surnames were
Monkman and Priestman. Bridgeman collected tolls at the bridge, Parkman, Moorman and
Pullman had duties in parks, moors and pools. Wudeman probably represented the woodcutter
or hunter, while Cheasman retailed cheese. Tucker originates from the Old English word
tucian, meaning the one who tucks cloth, Turner was the one who works with the lathe,
Tyler used to tile the roofs.

Walker is an occupational surname for a person who walked on damp raw cloth in
order to thicken it, Mercer was a trader, Wayne was a wagon maker, Web and Webster were
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weavers. Porter was a door-keeper, Reeve was a sheriff, Draper made or sold woolen cloth
(from French word drap-cloth), Sawyer was a sawer of woods and Toller kind of a tax
gatherer. Dexter only referred to females, with the meaning of a dyer. One of the rare
examples of the surnames derived from a fruit is Garnett, which is derived from pomegranate,
so it probably meant a person who sold pomegranates. Some of the surnames derived from
occupations are quite transparent:
Miller, Waterman, Page, Fishman, Gardener, Horn, Baker, Bird, Brewer, Chamberlain, etc.

Although it is impossible to mention all surnames deriving from occupations, some of

the most commonly used are listed and explained here. There are variations on one single
surname when it comes to spelling or the source of meaning, but the thing they have in
common is certainly the great influence of Latin, French and Old English words which are
unknown to a modern English speaker. Hence, in order to understand the etymology of most
of them, one must be a quite good Latin and French connoisseur. Even though a large number
of occupations which gave surnames are connected with lower social ranks, they are
invaluable for those who are interested in genealogy, etymology, history or simply for a
layman who is interested in his ancestors history and in culture in general.
This topic can be interesting and suitable for high-level students, but it can also be
adapted to lower levels (e.g. if the teacher excludes some parts). The article can serve as a
warm-up activity (reading activity, be that skimming or scanning) if the teacher is going to
present some new vocabulary connected with professions or if the topic is somehow related to
English history. Furthermore, it can be used as a model for students research paper; they can
be given the task to explore and read about English names or nicknames and then write a
similar paper, thus improving both reading and writing skills. As for the speaking, the article
can be a good starting point for discussions and debates with the topics such as Now and
then- modern and medieval professions, If I had lived in the Middle-Ages, I wouldve been
, The ideal/worst profession, etc.

REFERENCES:

1)Bardsley Charles W, 1875, English Surnames:Their Sources and Significations, David&Charles

Reprints, London,
2)Bowman William D, 1932, The Story of Surnames, Gale Research Co, London,
3)The Internet Sites:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/surnames_01.shtml
http://surnames.behindthename.com

http://genealogy.about.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:English-language_surnames