Many English surnames originally

Many English surnames have their origins in the professions or occupations of people's ancestors. This is because, historically, people were often referred to by their profession as a way of identifying them within a community. Over time, these occupational descriptions became inherited surnames. Some examples of English surnames that are derived from professions include:

• Smith: originally referred to someone who worked as a blacksmith
• Baker: came from the profession of baking bread and other goods
• Taylor: derived from the occupation of a tailor who made clothing
• Miller: referred to a person who operated a mill to grind grain into flour
• Cooper: came from the profession of making and repairing barrels

These are just a few examples, and there are many other English surnames that are based on professions. It's fascinating to think about how people's names can tell us something about their family history and ancestry.

blacksmith

someone who makes and repairs things made of iron, especially horseshoes

tailor

someone whose job is to make men’s clothes, that are measured to fit each customer perfectly

cooper

/ˈkuːpər/
someone who makes barrels