In modern times, nearly everyone has a first name and last name, but that wasn’t always the case. Given names (first names) have been around since early human development, however surnames (last names) are relatively recent on the human timescale. The earliest known surnames purportedly go back to ancient China around 2000 B.C. when Emperor Fu Xi established the naming system for census taking purposes. Over the following millennia more cultures adopted surnames as a means of naming tribes and clans, and establishing lineage to ancestors as a form of status. In many cultures, only those that were part of the nobility had surnames.

There are several types of surnames, each giving a glimpse into the past. Patrilineal and matrilineal surnames are the oldest and most common type of surname. These are names derived from the father (patrilineal) or mother (matrilineal), such as “Johnson” (John’s son) or “O’Brien” (of Brien). Occupational names are also common, often given to laborers based on what they did for work (ex. Smith, Baker, Miller, etc.). Some surnames originated from place names or landmarks associated with the person or where they lived (Hill, Fields, Rivers), others were descriptive of the person (Short, Swift, Armstrong).

Learning about the history of the surnames in your family tree provides a deeper sense of connection with your ancestors. This can help give insight into who they were, what they did and where they came from. Learn about your ancestor’s surnames and much more by contacting Anchored Ancestry today!