Medieval Names

I'm in the process of writing my first series of books set in the Middle Ages. Therefore, I thought I would take a look at the beginnings of some common surnames. Prior to this time period, people were know by their titles or their given name and the name of their village.

weaver

With the coming from the guilds, every occupation had a title.These eventually became surnames as well, and some of our surnames today come from these, especially if your ancestry comes from the British Isles. You make recognize many, but unless you are a history buff, some will likely not be familiar. Here are some examples:

Made bread, tarts, etc. (Baker)
Built roofing, floors, paneling, furniture, etc. (Carpenter)

Pulled teeth, did minor surgery, cut hair (Barber)
Tended hedges and fields of grass cut for animals (Hayward)
Made arrows (Fletcher)
Cut meats (Butcher)
Hauled the stone and wood to build a castle (Carter)
Grew plants for food (Farmer)
Worker or maker (Smith or Wright)
Secured and took care of the main doors (Porter)
Crafted bows as a type of weapon (Bowyer)
Made candles and sometimes soaps (Chandler)
Made parts of furniture, especially drawers (Joyner)
Cured animal hides and made leather (Tanner)
Made ales and strong drinks (Brewer)
Built strong structures, especially of stone (Mason)
Made footwear (Shoemaker)
Made wooden spoons, bowls, or fancy furniture legs (Turner)

Took care of parts of the household and some finances (Chamberlain) 
A professional soldier (Knight)
Supervised the household and great hall events (Steward)
Ground grains into a powder (Miller)
Prepared foods (Cook)
Cared for the cellar and the bottles stored there (Butler)

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