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*As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. John became John the smith, John the son of Matthew, John the short, or John from Heidelberg. | *As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. John became John the smith, John the son of Matthew, John the short, or John from Heidelberg. | ||
*At first “surnames” applied only to one person, not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names became hereditary and were passed on from generation to generation. | *At first “surnames” applied only to one person, not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names became hereditary and were passed on from generation to generation. | ||
*The nobility and wealthy land owners were the first to begin using surnames. | *Surnames developed from several sources. For example: | ||
*Merchants and townspeople then adopted the custom, as did the rural population. This process took two or three centuries. | **'''Occupational''' (based on a person’s trade, such as Carter or Smith) | ||
*In most of Germany, the practice of using surnames was well established by the 1500s. | **'''Geographical''' (based on a person’s residence, such as Drayton or Debenham) | ||
**'''Patronymic''' (based on a person’s father’s name, such as Jones, son of John) | |||
**'''Descriptive''' or '''nickname''' (such as Joy or Child) | |||
*The '''nobility and wealthy land owners''' were the first to begin using surnames. | |||
*'''Merchants and townspeople''' then adopted the custom, as did the '''rural population'''. This process took two or three centuries. | |||
*In most of Germany, the practice of using surnames was well established by the '''1500s'''. | |||
*In 1790, Baden was the first German state to require fixed surnames. Preußen issued an edict on 11 March 1812 that required that permanent family names be adopted within six months. Compulsory surname laws were enacted in the German states of Bayern and Mecklenburg in 1813 and 1814. | *In 1790, Baden was the first German state to require fixed surnames. Preußen issued an edict on 11 March 1812 that required that permanent family names be adopted within six months. Compulsory surname laws were enacted in the German states of Bayern and Mecklenburg in 1813 and 1814. | ||