Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-12
HOW DID YOU GET
YOUR SURNAME?
Origin OF Names Nfndc the Subject OF
An Interesting Lecture by
Prof. Widtsoc.

'The Origin of Surnamcs" was the
themo of an interesting lecture deliv-
Grad before tho theological mission
ary class at the l. D. s. business COL
lege recently. Tho speaker main
taincd that the Importance OF sur
names is great to the Latter-day
Saints whose investigation of their an
cestry ig part and parcel OF their work
In ufe Tho name, he held Ia dis
tinculshing feature of man, but not a
mark OF greatness. Names. he said,
were often given to signify the wishes
OF parents. quality of person. trade.
occupation. locality. customs, VOWS.
offices held. etc Various examples
were cited. such as Eve, the ino.hci
or all living: Levi. meaning adhesion
Abraham. father of multltudes; ia
cob. a surplanter. and others. For
ages. said the speaker, only one name
was used. but the demand grew so
ranidIY that names were combined,
suffixes added and changes instituted
generally. For instance. Simon, son
of Jonah. was called Simon Bar1onahs
Samuel, son of Richard, became SAM
uel Richardson; Peter. son oil Hans
develoDed into Peter Hanson, and SO
Waited. Richard was called Rich or
Dick. and Richardson and Dickson fol-
lowed The habit of practically all
nations using the word "son" TO IN
dicatc new name was dwelt upon
The Welsh name Price had Its origin
In AID Rice. the son of Price; Ap
Richard. Prichard, and Ap owen
Bowen. are instances of the same RUE:
The Scotch Mac, meaning son Oh
.Ih 1r
also was responsible for weli known
surnames in just such fashion as the
Irish O'Bricn, son OF Brien' cue.
Names also came from pet cognom-
one he instanced, such as WILL later
willis WNkIe, Wilkerson; Elliott, from
ELIAS, Marriott, from Mary. and other
similar examples.
The French "De la" and "Atte. $
meaning at the. is found In such
names as Attewell and Attewood- Lat
or the English made them Attwell and
Atwood. and still abbreviated to
Wells. Wood. etc. A name derived
from occupation Is indicated by the
addition of "er' or man." as Carter,
Raker. Boardman, Webber Miller, and
Weaver Names originating IN loca-
tions were instanced in Townsend
waters. Brook. Hill. Lane. NOEL OF
Knoll. Croft and Clayton. Clark OF
clerk. Parsons Priest, Monk. were
given as representing names derived
from offices held.
Such names as Queen, King, Herod
Mayday and similar instances. held the
speaker, originated In the middle age:
when very few could read and tho
drama was used to portray lessons II
the Scriptures. individuals playing
certain designated parts in the drama
received the names of the role they
represented
The difference IN the spelling o
names was ascribed to the fancy o
the scribe in early days who perchanct
| preferred to spell Brown, Braun
| Smith. Smythe, and so on down tn
| line.
The origin of other names from Off
= cial duties performed found expression
| in Shrieve. which In Anglo SaNol
| meant sheriff: Reeve, a care taker
| Deem. a judge; Sergeant: Vicks. o
| bishop Collett, carrier of bread an
] vino: Bennett, a man who exercise
| spiritual blessings; Abbott, Friar
| Num- and all the rest of them.
In brief Prof. Widtsoe stated tina
many centuries passed before the fam
| lily name was established. The nam
| passed with each generation until tn
| battle of Hastings, 1866. when the Nor
mans established the family name ant
they were subsequently entered In tn
| Domesday book with the list of estate
and holdings apportioned to the baron
| and others who conquered Great Brit
ain.