To understand the meaning of the concept, for starters, obviously, you need to look into the translation dictionary. Then it will be clear what is at stake. From English to Russian, last name is translated as "last name" or "last name". Nothing complicated, right? So we got the answer to the question, what is the last name. But think about it. What do you really know about this issue? A surname is not just a prefix characteristic for members of the same kind.
What is last name
A surname is an integral part of a name that indicates the carrier’s family (sometimes a tribe or community). Depending on traditions and laws, all family members may have the same surnames or different.
Surnames did not always exist and today are not present in all cultures. The tradition itself arose separately in different places around the world. In Europe, the concept became popular during the time of the Roman Empire and expanded throughout the Mediterranean and the western part of the continent. In the Middle Ages, this practice became extinct, as Germanic, Persian and other influences strengthened. During the late Middle Ages, surnames gradually degenerated, first in the form of special names (usually indicating a person’s occupation or area of ​​residence), which gradually acquired a modern look. In China, the phenomenon has become the norm, at least from the 2nd century BC.
History
Analyzing the question of what the last name is, it is necessary to dig into the history of English-speaking surnames.
It may seem that they have been used for a long time, but the appearance of surnames is a relatively recent phenomenon. A four-year study conducted by the University of the West of England, which ended in 2016, analyzed sources dating from the 11th and 19th centuries in order to understand the origin of British surnames. The study found that more than 90% of the names come from the UK and Ireland, with the most common being Smith, Jones, Williams, Brown, Taylor, Johnson and Lee.
The results were published in the Oxford English Dictionary of Family Names in the UK and Ireland. Project Manager Professor Richard Coates called the study "more detailed and accurate" than the previous ones. According to him, “Some names have an origin that is professional - the obvious examples are Smith (from the English smith) and Baker (baker). There is also a connection with the place of residence, for example Hill (hill) or Green (greens). Some surnames originally enshrined the father’s name - for example, Jackson or Jenkinson. Sometimes names come from nicknames and trite describe the appearance or character of a person, for example Brown (Brown), Short (short) or Slim (skinny). "
This study explains quite deeply what the last name is.
However, the meanings of some surnames remain unknown or unclear.
Varieties
Basil Cottle divided European surnames into four large types (depending on their origin): first name, last name of the profession, locality and nickname. This classification can be extended to surnames from other parts of the world. Other etymologists use a more complete classification, but these four categories are always at the core.