Origin of Last Names

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of your last name or where your family came from? What your ancestors did or where they lived? Surnames, our last names, tell a story about our family, one handed down for hundreds of years. By tracing the possible origin of your last name, you can learn more about the medieval ancestors who first bore the last name and, ultimately, handed it down to you. The study of names fascinates me. I occasionally read articles in the newspaper about the most popular children's names these days. Over time, of course, the popular names change. Mary is not as po…