Clarke - An English and Irish name meaning one who works as a clerk.Bailey - This name refers to a bailiff or steward.Forten Bras translates to strong in the arm. Armstrong - This name can be traced to the Norman invasion and the “Forten Bras” warrior clan.Archer - One who works with bows and arrows.Therefore, it was common for a person to take on their job’s name to differentiate themselves from others with the same first name. Many common English last names come from their ancestor's occupation. Wright - An occupational last name for a craftsman.Sinclair - An old French name that refers to people who came from the Norman region of Santa Clair.Paterson - A name of Latin origins, it is the Scottish version of Patrick’s son. Murray - A Celtic surname that means sea settlement.Scotland spent much of its time under British rule, and as a result, many baby names and surnames were traded back and forth over the years. Hughes - A name from middle English which means son of HughĮngland and Scotland have a turbulent history.Dawson - An old English variation of Son of David.For example, the last name Adams means “Son of Adam.” Therefore, it was common for a son to have a different last name than his father. Like many other cultures around the world, England has surnames based on the father’s given name. Last names in England and the UK didn’t become the norm until the Norman invasion of 1066. The Vikings and the Romans also frequently invaded and occupied England in its early days, and both cultures left traces of their language on the land and English surnames. As a result, many English last names are influenced by occupation, region, and the individual’s father’s name (patronymic last names).Ī portion of English last names are influenced by region for example, the last name Burton, like the famous film director Tim Burton, refers to a town in Leicestershire. Many Americans owe their last name to their English ancestors that settled here. Immigrants from Ireland and Scotland also influenced many English last names. English is a Germanic language but was also influenced by Welsh, Gaelic, Italian, French, Scandinavian, and other European languages. Find your English last name and learn about its meaning and origins as well as other popular names in the UK.Įngland has a long and varied history intertwined with many different nations and lands.
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