It has been just over a year since I posted my first blog entry - but your island girl has been extremely busy, what with work and family! Plus bloggers' block! Yes! There is such a thing as bloggers block. Well, without further ado, let me get back to my subject of interest which I have been mulling over for some time now.
How do people get their last names? I have always been interested in how surnames originate - you know, the genealogical history behind them. I recollect vaguely reading somewhere some years ago, that some surnames were assumed because of the occupation of the individuals. So a man who was a tailor became a Mr. Taylor (the spelling changed over time) and he would give his offsprings that name.
Well, that sounds plausible, but how on earth do you explain the "colour names" Mr. White, Mr. Green, Mr. Brown, Mr Gray, and Mr Pink?
When did we start using surnames? And why exactly did it become necessary for us to start using them?
I have started to note what strikes me as really weird and unusual English sounding surnames.
These I will share with you in my upcoming posts.
Well, you may send to me the ones which you have encountered and do you have an unsual sounding name? Let me hear it and the history behind it!
Posts
