Occupational names are last names derived from an occupation. Epithets are not really true names but phrases or terms which describe a characteristic of the person. Epithets can represent a physical characteristic, a character trait or even an event in a person's life. Last names that are relationship, occupational or locative in nature are fairly easy to locate. But for the most part, these last names are easy to find.
Epithets seem to be a very easy concept.
After all, an epithet is merely a descriptive phrase added on after a first name. But they can be difficult to work with correctly. This is due to the fact that not every descriptive phrase is likely to have been used in period as a descriptive phrase. When looking for, or deciding on an epithet, remember that epithets were not chosen by the individual but by the community. And the epithet was chosen for convenience, not for dramatic effect.