What are some medieval last names?

Answer 1

Paternal Names: A large number of people were known by the name of their father. For example, John son of Richard. Place Names: Some people adopted the name of the place where they originally came from. For example, John of Edenbridge. Topographical Names: In some cases the name referred to the land where the person lived. For example, Thomas atte Ford. Occupation Names: Some people were known by their occupation or trade. For example, Hugo the Carpenter. Office Names: Some people were known by the official duties they performed. For example, Osbert the Reeve. Nicknames: These names referred to the appearance and character of a person. For example, Alan the Bold. Ashdown: Old English "dweller on ash-tree hill" (1327: John de Asshdoune) Baker: Old English "maker of bread" (1177: William Ie Bakere) Barfoot: Old English "without shoes" (1160: Robert Barefoot) Bennett: Latin "blessed" (1193: Benedictus) Bigge: Old English "big, strong" (1177: Henry Bigge) Brattle: Old English "dweller by new farm" (1195 William Brattle) Brickenden: Flemish "maker of bricks" (1201: Hereward Brick) Brooker: Old English "dweller by the brook" (1296: William Brokere) Browne: Norman French "brown haired or skinned" (1111: Richard Ie Brun) Carpenter: Norman French "maker of wooden objects" (1121: Godwin Carpentar) Cheeseman: Old English "cheese maker" (1260: Henry Ie Cheeseman) Chowring: Old English "dweller in a clearing" (1297: Thomas Chowing) Clarke: Latin "cleric, scholar, secretary" (1272: John Ie Clerk) Cooper: Saxon "wooden bucket-maker" (1176: Robert Ie Cupere) Dunn: Old English "dark and swarthy" (1180: William Dun) Fleete: Old English "lives by creek" (1158: Richard Ie Fleet) Fletcher: Old English "arrow-maker" (1203: Robert Ie Flecher) Foreman: Old English "looks after pigs" (1296: Christina Foreman) Furner: Norman French "dweller by marshland" (1208: William Ie Furner) Giffard: Norman French "chubby cheeked" (1200: Johannes Giffard) Godfrey: Saxon "god-peace" (1086 Godefridus) Golding: Old English "son of Gold" (1224: Aldred Golding) Gregory: Greek "watchful' (1143 Willelmus Gregorii) Hale: Old English "dweller on the hill" (1180: Morus de la Hale) Herenden: Old English "dweller on high hill" (1334: Walter Herenden) Hughes: Saxon "son of Hugh" (1066: Hugh) Kynton: Old English "lives on the king's manor" (1295: Walter de Kynton) Mannering: Old English "manly" (1260: Thomas de Mainnering) Minchen: Old English "nun" (1190: Peter Minchun) Nash: Old English "dweller by the ash tree" (1296: William atte Nasche) Payne: Norman French "pagan" (1190: Edmund the Pane) Rolfe: Old English "peasant" (1242: Martin Rof) Seamark: Old English "seaman" (1324: Henry Seamarke) Singyard: Old English "singer" (1164: Walter Sinyard) Taylor: Norman French "maker of clothes" (1180 Walter Taylur) Walter: Old English "dweller by water" (1296': Geoffrey atte Walter) Ward: Old English "guard or watchman" (1194: John Warde) Webb: Old English "weaver" (1100: Alger Webba) Wood: Old English "dweller by the wood" (1242: Water de la Wode) hope that's enough