What’s In A Name?

—Curriculum Unit Overview—

Introduction:

In this unit, students will learn about the origins of four major types of British surnames. They will consult lists to discover the meanings of specific names and later demonstrate their knowledge of surnames through various group activities. They will then compare the origins of British to certain types of non-British surnames. In a final activity, the students will research the origins and meanings of their own family names.

Guiding Questions:

What did these names once tell about the people who bore them?

What similarities exist between British and non-British surnames?

How can we find the origins of our own surnames?

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how and why surnames came to be
• Describe four types of British surnames and give examples of each
• Compare the derivations of British and certain non-British surnames
• Tell the origin and meaning of their own surnames

Preparing to Teach this Lesson:

Become familiar with the materials used in the lesson plan. Locate and bookmark websites you plan to use. Download and duplicate charts used in Activities 1, 2, 3, and 4. Secure several copies of a local phonebook for the Assessment exercise in Lesson 3.

You can find additional background information about surnames at the following sites:

• A Brief Introduction to Medieval Bynames available through the EDSITEment-reviewed resource Labyrinth
• The Origins of Family Names available through the EDSITEment-reviewed resource Internet Public Library

Unit Lesson Plans

Lesson 1: How Did Surnames Come to Be?

Lesson 2. British Surnames Derived from Places

Lesson 3. British Surnames Derived from Occupations or Professions

Lesson 4. Non-British Surnames

Extending the lesson: My Family Name

• Have the students research the origins and meanings of their own surnames, consulting the websites used in Activities 1-4. Additional information can be found at Genealogy Resources by Region/Country available through Internet Public Library. Then have them share what they've learned about their personal genealogical backgrounds.
• As a follow-up, you might have the students design family crests, which provide visual clues to the meaning of their surnames.
• Learn about the origins and meanings of first names. A good place to start is Behind the Name, a link available through the Internet Public Library.
• Find out where clusters of people having certain common surnames live in our country by accessing US Surname distribution, also available through Internet Public Library.

Selected EDSITEment Websites:

• Internet Public Library
  [http://www.ipl.org]
• Behind the Name
  [http://www.behindthename.com/]
• Last Name Meanings
  [http://www.last-names.net/]
• Origin of Chinese Names
  [http://www.yutopian.com/names/]
• Surname Origin List
  [http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/bl_meaning.htm]
• The Origins and Meaning of Names
  [http://www.mayrand.org/meaning-e.htm]
• The Origins of Family Names
  [http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/bl_meaning.htm]
• The Truth about Hispanic Surnames
  [http://home.att.net/~alsosa/surnames.htm]
• US Surname distribution
  [http://www.hamrick.com/names/index.html
• Labyrinth
  [http://www.georgetown.edu/labyrinth]
  • A Brief Introduction to Medieval Bynames
    [http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/bynames/]
  • Medieval Jobs
    [http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castle32.htm]
  • Medieval Professions
    [http://www1.enloe.wake.k12.nc.us/enloe/CandC/showme/careers.html]
  • The Urban Economy
    [http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns/townint7.html]