THE ORIGIN OF FAMILY NAMES.

Mt Benger Mail, 18 March 1914, Page 3

THE ORIGIN OF FAMILY NAMES.

What does your name rneau r How did family names originate? Did our ancestors have three names, or oven two, to keep their individuality distinct? These are a tew natural, questions that most people find it hard to answer. A rapid glance at the earliest history ol any country shows that the people were content with one name. Hut a> they grew more numerous it iKV-aino iiccivsiyUT or desirable to give some additional name or title as a mark of honor, or tor a niekname or otlici means of distinguishing one man from

iiis fellows. So we have Zeno the Stoic, Saul of Tarsus. I'etor the Hermit. Richard the Liou-hcarted. Whence first came surnames no on. may presume to say. Perhaps all sources weie used equally, but next to "Smith" the commonest ones are those made up oi the father's name plus the word ".m n" m Saxon, or its equivalent m other dialects.

The occupations of mer. give us a ll(Hxl of common names. There were the Carpenter, the Slater, the Tyler, the Thatcher for the roof, the Gardener. tile Dresser, the Beeman. the Shepherd, the Farmer, the Driver. tinMiner. the Mason, the Hunter, the Seaman, the Slripman, the Fisher, and many more of everyday life. It' we take a look at the townspeople we rind the Merchant, the Miller, the Weaver, also called Webb and Webster. and Dy. r. the Fuller. aNo known as Walker Tu.-ker; Sherman (.the sina; :>:a;i . Taylor, Draper, and Tinkler or Tinker, who in those days was rather a pedlar o- notion*. teiliriL; the people of his ■i'!iiii:g by 11 nk 1 it:or a y lie increased his earnings by m.nd•ng var ou.> odd articles, her.et tin present moaning. I hero v. ere also t lie Barker and Tanner. the Slioe-r.iik- r. the Cutler, the Ulc '.-er,:.m, "he Bute'ie!*. the Baker, ind the ea' die>tvk maker, though the'list ua> cade l Candeler or Chandelor. iho leveh w - there as the pied.■cos <or ot our .... • , U id the BarUr. who, > a rude oon. ■;dvertis.-l lis hu.si■le.ss by the > rip.nl pole still used; the Cooper or Cowper. Smith oi all sorts Blow wi ,^ht. Cart wright. Gager. to •veasure lipids subject to tax; and \\ • ;iilitman. :•> jvrtorm a like dutv for goods to be wcyliiil- Women's Maga7. no."