What is a last name?

The acquisition of a last name varies among cultures. Within English-speaking countries, a child is typically given the surname of the father. Other traditions use the surname inherited by the mother from her father, and still others use a combination of the parents’ surnames.

Surnames came about at different times in different areas of the world. Until recently, there has been no standardized spelling of a surname; instead, a surname was spelled phonetically, and its spelling was thus subjectively dependent on the scribe. Sometimes, scribes would spell the same name in multiple ways within a single document.

Last name origins

Names are one of the core identifiers in placing each individual in a family tree. Surnames can be categorized by how they were obtained or by the most likely origin. Here is a list of the most common sources.

Patronymic

Named after the father with affixes determined by culture. Examples: Hansen, Johnson, Hansdatter.

Matronymic

Named after the mother, usually when paternity is in doubt; it may occur when the mother is of a higher social standing.

Occupational

Named after the type of labor the parents performed. Examples: Baker, Potter, Smith. 

Geographical

Named after a place name or a topographical feature. Examples: London, Hill. 

Descriptive

Named after a physical characteristic or personality trait. Examples: Young, Smart.

Natural

Names related to animals, plants, or elements, such as Fox, Bean, or Berg. 

More Articles

Discover more about last names from different areas of the world on the FamilySearch blog.

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Surname maps

Find links to websites with maps showing the evolution of surnames from different periods in time.

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Online classes

Learn more about naming patterns and customs from experts in this series of informative webinars.

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