A History of Surnames

Pinterest Origin: English Meaning: Birmingham is the name of a city in England, coming from   Beornmundingaham  meaning "homestead of the people of Beornmund", Beornmund being a given name meaning "young man, warrior + protection". Variants : Bermingham 

Pinterest Origin: Old French Meaning: Bunyan is an English surname which seems to have come about as a nickname for someone who had a lump or a hump, originating from Old French bugne meaning "swelling, protuberance". It could also have been an occupational surname for someone who made small pastries or fruit tarts, also from Old French bugnon . Variants : Bunyon Bunyen  Benyon  Bonyon Buniun  Banyan  Banion 

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: Old English Meaning: Brewster is an occupational surname meaning "brewer of beer" or "brewer of ale", referring to someone who made and distilled beer for a living. Apparently the -ster suffix was used to refer to a woman's occupation and Brewer would have been the male form of the name used to indicate a male brewer, though somewhere down the line Brewster became popular for both sexes. The surname comes from Old English breowan meaning "to  brew" or "to distill". Variants : Brewer  Breuestere  Brewester  Broster  Brostar  Brouster