* Occupation: Surnames were often based on the occupation of the person who first adopted them. For example, the surname "Smith" is derived from the Old English word for "blacksmith", while the surname "Baker" is derived from the Old English word for "baker".
* Location: Surnames were also often based on the location where a person lived. For example, the surname "Hill" may have been adopted by someone who lived on a hill, while the surname "Ford" may have been adopted by someone who lived near a river crossing.
* Patronymic: Surnames were sometimes based on the name of the person's father. For example, the surname "Johnson" is derived from the given name "John", and the surname "Jackson" is derived from the given name "Jack".
* Matronymic: Surnames were also sometimes based on the name of the person's mother. For example, the surname "Matthews" is derived from the given name "Matthew", and the surname "Richards" is derived from the given name "Richard".
* Nickname: Surnames were also sometimes based on a person's nickname. For example, the surname "White" may have been adopted by someone who had white hair, while the surname "Black" may have been adopted by someone who had black hair.
* Descriptive characteristics: Surnames were sometimes based on a person's physical or personality traits. For example, the surname "Long" may have been adopted by someone who was tall, while the surname "Short" may have been adopted by someone who was short.
Over time, surnames became hereditary and were passed down from generation to generation. Today, surnames are an important part of our identity and can provide us with clues about our ancestry and heritage.