Surname

From GeneaWiki - English

A surname refers to a name added to a given name and a part of a personal name. In many cases, a "surname" refers to a family name; the family name meaning first surfaced in 1375.

Surnames are often influenced by common elements: the name of the person's father Patronymic, 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's father? Where is this person from? What does this person do for a living? What is his or her most prominent feature?

For instance, the names Smith and Cooper may originate from the blacksmith and cooper metal work occupations, respectively. Names like Cohen, may denote a prominent religious background; Cohen is a name usually found among male descendants of Jewish priests. Álvaro-Álvarez; Martín-Martínez; Sancho-Sánchez; Fernando-Fernández; Hernán-Hernández; Gonzalo-González; Nuño-Núñez are all examples denoting a fathers' and their successors' names.