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Question: Why did a persons occupation become their last name!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
To keep them separate!. If there were 14 men named Paul in the county, whose fathers had all been named John!. it would not help to say "Paul Johnson"!. So, one became Paul Carpenter, another became Paul Baker, etc!.

That, by the way, is why "Farmer" is such a rare surname, even though most people were farmers back then!. Saying "Paul the farmer" would be as useless as saying "He's the Swede with blond hair" or "he's the Chinese with black hair"!. Since they were ALL farmers (all but a few, that is), they had to come up with something unique about the person!. He might be the Paul with the strong arm, (Armstrong) or the Paul who lived on the Hill, or by the Rivers, or in the Meadows; he might have a shock of White hair or have a dark complexion (Black)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In pre midevil time, 400-1100, surnames were tribal, so to speak, rather territorial!. In 1066 William, duke of Normandy invaded Britain, consisting of England and Wales!.

At that time names were territorial, ie, Wal, Walcutt, Wallace, living close to a hedge of forest, People who lived in this forest!., as an example!.

The new King William 1, to reward the Norman lords who followed him in this conquest, gave them vast properties, cattle, castles, villages, and!. In so doing he ousted the old establishment, for a new one!.

To keep taxation records properly, the new govt!. needed records, thus the domesday rolls, the offical census of the King!. People were given last names, surnames that is, to reflect their occupation within the community!.

Cooper-barrl, tubs, casks
Smith-iron and metal work
Shepard-a flock herder
Cook-who makes food
Backer-breads

In this time surnames changed from terrtitorial to occupational!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Eons ago peasant didn't have last names so they would be described as John the Baker, or Frederick the smith (blacksmith)!. Later they would become John Baker and Frederick Smith!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

http://lastnamealmanac!.com/historyWww@QuestionHome@Com