Question

Were all occupational names given literally the occupation of the person given the name?Explain how nicknames became surnames.

Answer 1

Answer:

Nicknames describing appearance also became surnames, by complexion (such as “Brown” or “White”), by characteristic (“Wise” or “Young” for instance). Some of the nicknames describing traits, with Old English roots, may have been the earliest surnames. “Lewis” comes from the Old English leofwyne and means loving friend.