The idea of having a surname (“last” name) is a relatively recent phenomenon. Surnames began to emerge in Europe during the 13th through the 15th century. One fascinating group of surnames comes from nicknames.
Before exploring some of these names, let’s take a look at the etymology of “nickname.” The term “nickname” can be traced back to the 1300s when it was “ekename” in which “eke” means “additional.” An “ekename” was a “name added on.” During the 1600s, “ekename” morphed into “nekename” which eventually became “nickname.”
As an aside, the word “eke” can still be found in expressions such as to “eke out a living.”
Now, let’s go back to some surnames based on nicknames:
“Doolittle” was the nickname for a lazy man;
“Frost” referred to a man with white hair or one with a cold personality; “
Roy” is a Scottish nickname for someone with red hair;
“Klein” was a German nickname for someone with a diminutive stature;
“Hahn” was a German nickname for a proud or lusty man (it means “rooster”).
Welcome to Street Prophets Saturday. This is an open thread. Feel free to add your comments about surnames or what’s on your mind this week.