Where does your last name come from? The 4 major origins explained

What does your last name tell about your origins? Discover the 4 large sources of surnames and pierce the mystery of your family heritage.

The 4 major origins of family names

Whether it is transmitted by the father, by the mother or after recognition, the family name has played an essential role in genealogy since the 12th century, when its transmission within families has gradually normalized.

We will have to wait Villers-Cotter0xTHE2ts order in 1539 So that the use of the surname is truly imposed.

Besides, did you know? INSEE believes that it existed More than 1.4 million family names in 1990 ! This diversity is explained by the wide variety of possible spelling for the same patronym. In Europe, they are even Witnesses of a common culture.

We consider today that the family names that we know come from Four possible origins ::

• Un nom de bapt0xTHE2me, un surnom, un nom d’usage ou un diminutif du pr0xTHE0nom du p0xTHE1re (ex :: Jean, Thomas, Marin, Jeannot, Hanin…)).

• Une localisation (ex :: Dupont, Dulac, Dubois…)).

• Un nom de m0xTHE0tier (ex :: Boucher, THEmaire, Clerc, Mar0xTHE0chal)).

• Un trait de caract0xTHE1re, physique ou un exploit (ex :: Lamy, THEgrand, Champion…)).