A last name is an important part of your identity. It may be just a word, but it carries a lot of significance and history. Most people don’t really ever stop to think about what their last name means, but they do get annoyed if it’s mispronounced or misspelled. 

Even if you have one of the most popular last names on the planet, those letters you attach to the end of your identity have a story and meaning behind them. Whether you love or hate your last name, it’s a part of who you are – so you might as well learn the story behind it… 

Not All Last Names Are Equal… 

Okay, not saying that one last name is inherently better than any others. In fact, they’re kind of insignificant at the end of the day. But last names can come from a variety of different places dependent on the ancestors involved. 

For some, the surname was developed based on the occupation the initial person carrying the name. This may not make sense at first – you’ve probably never met anyone with the last name of ‘Author’ or ‘Athlete’, but think about jobs from the medieval times. ‘Baker’, ‘Butcher’, ‘Cook’, ‘Fisher’, ‘Mason’ or ‘Weaver’ are last names that are still common today – and coincidentally pair perfectly with an occupational position. 

Of course, this doesn’t account for all of the possible last names out there. Others were given surnames based on their geographic location. It wasn’t explicitly their exact address, but think stems of landforms like ‘Bridge’ or ‘Wood’ that are commonly compounded in last names. 

For the rest of people, there’s probably some specific reason as to why that’s your last name. Maybe it was a nickname of an ancestor or the name of one of their properties (like a castle, cottage, or farm). Last names also often signified loyal following of a certain individual – whether that’s in a religious or political context. 

Finding Your Story 

Long story short, it’s hard to explain how each last name came to be. With hundreds of thousands of potential last names, it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact origin of every last name. Each last name has its own unique backstory that differentiates itself, and all those that wear that name, from everyone else on the globe. Needless to say, there’s not one unifying rule of how every possible surname was generated. That’s where the fun part comes in. 

Even if your last name is super annoying and hard to pronounce, learn the story behind it. Pull out some family history books and channel your inner historian. Do some digging to find out what makes you, you. If you can’t figure it out by talking to family members or reading through documents, turn to the internet for some help. 

Learning your story can change your perception on your last name entirely. Given that it’s something we use every day but rarely actually stop to think about, it’s worth it to invest some time to research. It will give you a much deeper appreciation for that word attached to your identity, even if it is impossible for anyone to get right on the first try.