A History of Surnames

Queen is an English surname with a variety of meanings depending on the origin: a short form of McQueen , the anglicized form of Gaelic  Mac Shuibhne meaning "son of Suibhne", a personal name meaning "well-going" or "pleasant"; it could also be derived from Old English cwen meaning "woman", likely originating as a nickname for a man who played the part of a queen in a play since back than women weren't allowed to be on the stage; another possible meaning I've seen attributed to the surname is that it may come from Old French word chene meaning "oak, oak tree" derived from  Gaulish word  cassanos  meaning "oak" from * cass- (twist); or it may have come about as an occupational name for a keeper of hounds, from Old French  chien from Latin canis meaning "dog"; it derives from the Proto-Indo-European word   *ḱwṓ- (dog).   Origin: Gaelic, Old English, Gaulish, Proto-Indo-European Pinterest V...

Turner is an English occupational surname with a few possible origins: it may refer to someone who was a turner, someone who turns and shapes wood, metal, or bone on a lathe derived from Latin tornus from the Proto-Indo-European word  *terh₁ (to rub turn); it may also have developed as a nickname for someone who was a fast runner from Middle English turnen (to turn) which comes from the same Proto-Indo-European word  *terh₁ plus hare , referring to the animal, likely in reference to its speed; Turner may also be a German surname for someone who was a gymnast; it may also have derived as an occupational name for an official who was in charge of a tournament, from Old French tournoi "tournament"; another possible meaning is that it may have originated from French Le  étourneau meaning "starling", over time becoming L e Turner and than Turner. Turner can also be used as a male given name. Origin: Proto-Indo-European, German, Old French Pinterest ...

Pinterest Origin: Middle English Meaning: Witherspoon is a Scottish surname derived from a place name now long lost, perhaps from Old English wether (ram, sheep) and spong referring to a narrow strip of land, so the surname essentially means "a narrow strip of land where sheep dwell". Variants : Witherspoons  Wetherspoon Wotherspoon  Wetherspong 

Pinterest Origin: Old English, Norman French Meaning: Lovecraft is an English surname combined with two English elements; the first part of the name is made up of either Old English personal name Lufu or Lufa meaning "love", or from the Norman French louve meaning "female wolf"; while the second part of the name could be derived from Old English craeft meaning "craft, skill".

Origin: Old English Meaning: Cranston is a Scottish surname derived from a place name. It's made up from Old English cran (crane) and tun (settlement) meaning "crane's settlement".

Pinterest Origin: Old English Meaning: Fowler was originally an occupational surname for a bird catcher or someone who hunted wild birds. It comes from Old English fugelere derived from fugol meaning "bird".

Origin: French, Latin, English Meaning: As a surname, Bessey has several possible origins. It could be derived from a place name in France, which seems to come from Bassiacum, a Gallo-Roman name made up of Latin given name Bassius which either comes from Greek bassos "fox" or from Latin bassus "short, low".  Another possible meaning is that is comes from French besson meaning "twin", "twice" or "double" from Latin bissus, originally used as a nickname for someone who was a twin. It could also have started out as a matrynonic for Elizabeth  or its nickname Bess , a female given name meaning "God is my oath" or "God is my abundance". Pinterest Variants : Besse Beesey  Bessen 

Pinterest Origin: Greek Meaning: Partridge is an English surname which comes via Old French perdriz, derived from Latin perdix, perdicus  meaning "partridge" in reference to the bird. It likely comes from Greek   pérdomai which means "to break wind, to fart" from Proto-Indo-European root word *perd (to fart, break wind). According to Greek myth, the partridge first came into existence when the famous craftsman Daedalus (of the Minotaur fame) threw his nephew off a hill, jealous of his talents and skills. However, Perdix was saved by the goddess Athena, who turned him into a partridge.

Pinterest Origin: Germanic Meaning: Walraven was originally a given name turned surname which is made up of Germanic elements wal  (battlefield, slaughter) and hraban (raven). Variants : Wallraven  Walreuen Van Walraven

Pinterest Origin: Old English Meaning: Rutherford comes from a place in Scotland called Rutherford, indicating someone who was originally from there. It comes from Old English hry đer (cattle) and ford (ford)  meaning "cattle ford". Rutherford can also be used as given name, such as Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president of the United States.