Surnames of Relationship
Abstract
A MONG the Anglo-Saxons and the Scandinavians, to whom hereditary surnames were unknown, it was often found convenient to identify a man by describing him as son of his father, e.g. Sired Ælfredessuna (987) ‘son of Alfred’ (OE Ælfǣd), Yric Haroldes sunu (952) ‘son of Harold’ (ON Haraldr). Such names were not family names; they died with the man. A similar, natural method of description is found by the thousand in medieval documents in the Latin form, Willelmusfithis Roberti. These, too, were descriptive and not family names.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Linguistics and language evolution
Medieval Literature and History
Linguistics and Language Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 75–96
- Publication date
- 26 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter