Curriculum

What's In A Name?

Common names in Britain and Ireland.
Photo caption

Common names in Britain and Ireland.

www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk

MacDonald. Carpenter. Underwood. Green. These are typical American names that reflect a family's British origins—but they tell us little about the people who currently bear them. How times have changed! In the Middle Ages, a person's second name served a useful function. In some cases, it revealed where he lived; in others, it told who his father was, what he did for a living, or even what he looked like.

In this unit, students will learn about the origins of four major types of British surnames. They will consult lists to discover the meanings of specific names and later demonstrate their knowledge of surnames through various group activities. They will then compare the origins of British to certain types of non-British surnames. In a final activity, the students will research the origins and meanings of their own family names.

Guiding Questions

What are the origins of British surnames?

What did these names once tell about the people who bore them?

What similarities exist between British and non-British surnames?

 

How can we find the origins of our own surnames?

Learning Objectives

Explain how and why surnames came to be

Describe four types of British surnames and give examples of each

Compare the derivations of British and certain non-British surnames

Tell the origin and meaning of their own surnames

Curriculum Details

Preparation Instructions

Become familiar with the materials used in the lesson plan. Locate and bookmark websites you plan to use. Download and duplicate charts used in the activities. Secure several copies of a local phonebook for the Assessment exercise in Lesson 3.

You can find additional background information about surnames at the following sites:

Lesson Plans in Curriculum

Lesson 1: How Did Surnames Come to Be?

During the Middle Ages, the feudal system meant that most people in Europe lived in small farming villages. As the population expanded and the towns grew, however, a need arose to find ways to differentiate between two people who shared the same first name.

Lesson 2: What's In A Name? British Surnames Derived from Places

Over half of all English surnames used today are derived from the names of places where people lived. This type is known as a locative surname. For example, a man called John who lived near the marsh, might be known as John Marsh. John who lived in the dell was called John Dell. Other examples are John Brook, John Lake, and John Rivers.

Lesson 3: British Surnames Derived from Occupations or Professions

Another common type of medieval byname derived from how a man spent his time. Every farming village had a blacksmith to forge iron tools, a miller to grind wheat, a carpenter to craft furniture, and many other specialists.

Lesson 4: Non-British Surnames

Modern American society is known for its ethnic diversity, and this, of course, is reflected in a wide variety of surnames. In this activity, students will learn about the origins and meanings of surnames commonly used in the United States that derive from non-British cultures.

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Lesson Plan

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