with links to bits of history
a descendent family from de la Pomerai in the apple orchards of Normandy
Although conformity of spelling did not occur until many centuries later it was after the time of the Norman Conquest 1066, that surnames began to be adopted.
Initally it was the men of rank, land owners and men of high office who had surnames reflecting their status.
The surnames were mainly locational or genealogical to begin with , as new Norman overlords laid claim to their English manors and estates. Gradually other surnames emerged, genealogical names,(Ralph son of,) then as the trend percolated down through society occupational names occurred ( Miller and Goldsmith) and a few based on a nickname or a personal characteristic.
Trying to unravel some of the twists and turns of an individuals true name from many centuries past has its problems. Because town populations were small , when a man was referred to, everyone knew who they were talking about. One man, in a small town, might be known by several names, depending on who was referring to him and this can cause considerable confusion in genealogical terms. He might be Ranulph the Port Reeve to one and Ranulph the Goldsmith to another. Confusion in genealogical terms
By the 1350's most of the Norman french and latin versions of surnames had be anglicised as scribes, generally, conformed to the prevailing trends.
By 1500's surnames were more consistantly in use by all stratus of society and the norman french and latin usage had been dropped almost entirely. Names were more firmly identified with the individual.
Even in 21st Century the origins of about 40% of surnames are based on location, 20% are genealogical, 20% are occupational, many of these names occurred in the 15th century when the new Gentlemen 'class' arose as merchants emerged as men of wealth and influence. Less than 10% were based on a nickname or personal characteristic.
Have you ever wondered what your surname might mean? Its an interesting thing to investigate. One place to look is;
http://www.nameseekers.co.uk/surname.htm