We have talked lately about multiple curiosities of the last names, in which we can see reflected our particular case, and that of our children. We have also known what surnames are like in the world, and today we bring a compilation of the origins of the surnames: where they come from and what their meanings are.
Most surnames, depending on the origin, can be divided into: patonymic, toponymic, derived from trades, descriptive and Spanish.
Patronymic surnames. They are widespread and are those that have been originated by a proper name. In medieval Spain and in countries that were its colonies, the "ez" disengagement is mainly used. Although they are also common "is" (for Portugal), "is" (for Catalonia and Valencia) and "iz" (For the Basque Country), "are" (Anglo-Saxon countries) ...
Toponymic surnames. They are also very widespread in Spanish. They derive from the name of the place where the person or family associated with the family name lived, proceeded or owned land. Many are preceded by the preposition "de", "del", "de la" or simply are gentilicios (Gallego, Alameda, Avilés, Cuenca, Barceló, Cerro, Nieves ...).
Surname derived from trades. They are those that derive from the profession exercised by the person or family associated with the surname (Ferrer, Pastor, Caballero, Vaquero, Jurado ...).
Descriptive Surname. They are those that derive from a description or some nickname of the person or family associated with the surname, focusing on some quality or physical defect (Head, Bald, Slim, Brown ...).
Castilianized Surname. Castilianized surnames are those that do not have a Hispanic origin, but with the influence of Castilian were transformed with a spelling as similar to Spanish pronunciation. The most common is that it occurred due to the presence of an individual from a foreign lineage based in Spain or its former colonies. Some surnames of indigenous origin are also Castilianized, being common that some surnames were adapted to existing ones because they have a similar phonetics.
All this means that, although many people share a family name, they don't have to have common ancestors. Many surnames were taken from the name of the owner of the farm where they worked although there was no genetic relationship between them.
Others were granted by missionaries and friars by baptizing indigenous people in remote areas of the peninsula. For all this, for referring to professions, peoples, physical qualities ... sharing surname does not necessarily mean sharing ancestors.
And, as we see, the origins and meanings of the surnames are very varied and they show the richness in our language and in most of our surroundings.
