When did they start using last names?

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by MaryleeII

About what time did the use of first and last names come about? Or first names? Or two names?

I'm trying to research someone by the name of Heoreston, born about 900 AD. That's the only name I can find, I assume its a last name---Oh, from England, or whatever it was called back then.

In Britain, surnames were adopted in the 13th and 14th centuries. In China family names were adopted in 2852 BC. In other places they have been adopted more recently.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_name#History

[sheena12]

Originally Posted by bumpus7

Two names for one person was first given in the beginning of all things
and during the creation of man and woman according the The Bible.

The first man was named Adam, and the first woman was named Eve Adam.

Gen:5:1: This is the book of the generations of Adam.
In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2: Male and female created he them; and blessed them,
and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
.

Seriously?

[Tia 914]

Originally Posted by sheena12

Seriously?

Yes- and their kid was named Cain Adamson.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by KaaBoom

In Britain, surnames were adopted in the 13th and 14th centuries. In China family names were adopted in 2852 BC. In other places they have been adopted more recently.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_name#History

In Britan, in 1300, a general count of population was done, with names and places and relations. Since there were too many with the same name, official last names began being used. Some may be of older vintage as well. My first traceable ancestor was a Spurgin, but when you look up the origion of the name its a combination of the norse personal name Spurg and (with the origional spelling) the British 'eon' meaning of. The family comes from the area controlled by Danes, who did sometimes use last names.

So a male Dane had a child, likely both sides farmers, and they combined the Norse convention of using the father's personal name, Spurg with the British fashion of tacking on an 'of' with the eon. Likely this Spurgeon was from both culturally. Most of those who lived in what became the Danelaw who were pesants stayed there and merged with the Danish pesants who were added when it was given to the Danes to leave the English alone.