The Craft In A Surname

A large number of our most common surnames today are occupative. This is not surprising when we consider the fact that the same craft often persisted in one family for several generations. It is believed that occupative surnames were probably the first to become hereditary. For example, let us suppose that three men, all named Tom, lived in one community. One was a baker; another was a miller; the third was a smith. To avoid confusion, people of the community would speak of the first as Tom, the baker. The second would be known as Tom, the miller; the third, Tom, the smith. Nothing could be more natural then, than for these men to become Mr. Tom Baker, Mr. Tom Miller, and Mr. Tom Smith. Now let us further suppose that two Toms, two Dicks, and two Harrys left London at the same time for Liverpool. Both of the Toms were bakers. Since there was already a Mr. Tom Baker living in Liverpool— our hypothetical community of the preceding paragraph may as well be Liverpool—the people of Liverpool would now have the problem of distinguishing between the three bakers, all named Tom.

The first Liverpool Tom would continue to be known as Mr. Tom Baker. One of the two London Toms might easily become Mr. Tom London. If the other Tom-from-London was extremely tall and slim he might become known as Mr. Tom Long—or Longfellow. Long and Longfellow belong to the nickname group of surnames. One of the two Dicks from London might also be a baker. If his neighbors considered him extremely shrewd or cunning, he could easily become Mr. Dick Fox. If the other Dick-from-London were also a baker he could be named Mr. Dick Baker—provided that the Liverpool Dicks were not bakers, and the new name would not be confusing. These same things could happen to the Harrys.

There could be still another baker in Liverpool. We shall call this one Matthew. If our second Harrv-from-London became associated with Matthew in the baking business he might become Mr. Harry Matthew. His surname would thus be derived from a personal name. On the other hand, this Harry might wish to be known as the son of his father who was called John, or Andrew perhaps. Harry could then be Mr. Harry Johns, Mr. Harrv Johnson, or Mr. Harry Andrews. In southern England the genitive -s was more common. In the northern part of the country -son was frequent. The Scandinavian countries contributed -sen.

By: davidbunch

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Other Articles: fbi agent salary Who is hiring in my Area? Adecco employment agency