What is the origin of family names?

Have you always wondered where the surnames come from? How did our ancestors choose them? We tell you everything!

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Some time ago we shared you 5 resources on surnames in France (But not only). An article allowing you to regain the meaning and the origin of your surname. But have you ever wondered what was the origin of family names? Why do we use them? How did they evolve over time? Here are some explanations. 

Gaul, Roman Empire and Barbarian Invasions: different uses of the family name

In Gaul first, only a unique name was given to individuals. This name was often linked to a quality, a trade or a feat. It was not transmitted. 

But the expansion of the Roman Empire broadcasts the use of the Roman name, made up of a first name, a name and a nickname, until the 3rd century. 

The arrival of barbarian invasions replaces the use of the Roman name with names of Germanic origin, often made up of two syllables. The name is still not transmitted. 

Then, the expansion of Christianity imposed that the baptized chooses a new username to mark their new belief. 

In the Middle Ages, the surname is democratized 

Family names in medieval times are mainly of Germanic origin. While the populations continue to grow, the use of the first name is necessary from the 10th century to distinguish individuals. 

Many saints will be given, as well as individual nicknames. They will then become surnames. From the 12th century, the transmission of the name into the family was made naturally. 

It is considered today that a surname can come from these four origins: 

- It can come from baptismal name, a nickname, a username or the diminutive of the father's first name (ex: Martin, Jean, Bernard, Thomas, Jeannot, Hanin ...)

- It can be linked to a location (ex: Dupont, Dubois, Dulac, Duchêne, etc.)

- He can correspond to business name (ex: Boucher, Masson, Lemaire, Clerc, Marechal, etc.)

- He can designate a character trait, physique or a feat (ex: Roux, Leblanc, Lamy, Legrand, Champion, etc.) 

The modern period or the regulation of the use of family names

If since the 12th century the name has been transmitted from generation to generation, note that in the 15th century, only the king could authorize a name change. Followed in 1539 François I's To oblige the holding of baptism and burial registers and formalizing the recording in writing of family names. It was during this period that the spelling of the name was formalized. Note that to make your genealogy, you should not dwell on a single spelling of your family name, it has been able to evolve both phonetically and urthographically over time. 

March 26, 1555, Henri II Edit confirms the prohibition to change its name under penalty of a fine and to be deprived of the privileges of nobility. But this one will be revoked on August 17, 1556 at the request of the Normandy Parliament. 

It will take several years before in 1579, the Large prescription from Blois d'Henri III, does not order the holding of registers of marriage acts and the prohibition, again, of changing its name without prior authorization from the king. 

Centuries later, in the midst of a French revolution, the Mountain convention of November 14, 1793 Authorizes great freedom in changes in first names and names, possible on simple declaration to the municipality. But there Thermidorian convention of August 3, 1794 puts an end to this freedom and establishes that each citizen can only bear the first names and names appearing on his birth certificate. 

With a few jurisprudence, this agreement is still topical in the French system. 

And you ? What is the origin of your last name?

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