History of Last Names: History in a Minute (Episode 11)

Why do we have last names and where did they come from. Mr. Phillip Campbell, our bearded, nerdy history guru is here to gives the scoop ... in just a minute.

If you have a history question you'd like answered, let us know in the comments.



Visit us on social media:

We would love the opportunity to serve you and your homeschool.

[janined]

My grandmother's surname was Cooper. A Cooper is a barrel maker.

[jeffchristianson-ziebell]

My last name comes from my German ancestors who were onion farmers…. Zwiebel is Onion in German… I learned all about it only a few years ago & I just turned 54 yesterday lol

[ghoul]

So fascinating. I think patronymic is my favorite

[geraldbrefka]

In Eastern Europe we came for horseherds and our last name at first was our herdname. Then we began to mix with the Slavs so the Slavs wanting they were just as good as the herds man warriors had their name in short hand sentences but envisizing how great they were individually at the same time naming the herd family migrating into their community. My family in 1400 left the herd land from during a tartar invasion but the settle Poles called our herd the Eyebrow bridge of the Sarmatians. With Eastern Europeans its about 50/50 Slavic or Sarmatian, with scattered names referring to the Romans because we were forced to serve the Roman cavalries. Survivors returning from their 30 year service coming home and not finding their herd kept their Roman name.

[nelsontragura]

So it just became universal without even starting with the year it was promulgated. Based.

[dinalimpiado-yfzt]

Hello sir, I want to know where LIMPIADO last names came from? Pls help me I want to know. Thank you

[Michaeldesanta]

Tom Blackhat lol 😂 and Tom Butcher lol 😂

[frederick...]

Who decided what precise last name would be ? I ask because I knew a Mr. Roach