This article is meant to discuss how to discover the meaning or origin of your family name. There are many different methods of trying to establish the origins of your surname. Some are as simple as one of your early ancestors wove baskets for the entire village where he lived. Because surnames were not necessary in medieval times, he was known as "Tom the weaver". A few generations later, when the local government required last names he took on the name Tom Weaver. Your family has been know as Weavers ever since.
Some name origins are merely a different spelling of a similar sounding surname. Sometimes a double "b" becomes a single "b", other times a "gh" changes into just an "h". Frequently these changes were simply the results of poor spelling by the upper class land owners or local governments. Schooling was not required by most common people and therefore many could not even recognize their own last names, let alone be able to spell them consistently.
Many times, even in the mid 1800s in North America, the government would undertake the census. Even if they could barely write, one of your ancestors might be appointed as the census taker. You would come across many different nationalities and frequently would simply spell the name as best you could. The family might not have anyone that actually could read the word you recorded. If the meaning and origin was similar, from that day onward that family name had changed.
Other origins or meanings of surname are far more difficult to trace. Last names that do not relate to an occupation may instead be related to the origin of the father's given name. The family of "William" might eventually be called "Williamson". The number of generations of ancestors you would have to go back to find this reference could be staggering. If you think that there are approximately 4 or 5 generations per century, you may have to go back 20, 25 or more generations to find this link.
Other meanings and origins of surnames can be traced to nationalities and native languages. Following along with our example "Weaver" in German is spelled "Weber", in Spanish it is spelled "Tejedor", in French it is spelled "Tisserand". Naturally, these last name conversions, when your ancestors move to a new country, seem to take on a life of their own. Families would choose the spelling that was easiest for all to learn. This creates a problem for anyone who wants to trace their family tree and research their surname origin.
When you are searching for the origins and meaning of your family's last name, take all of these possible influences into consideration. Try to follow the origin and movement of your family from country to country and look out for possible changes in the spelling of the surname whenever your ancestors trail grows cold.
