English names are made up of at least two parts: a first name and a last name.

Many people in England are called William or Mary or John or Joy. These are their first names. How could you, then, tell the difference if they didn't have last names?
　　
But there was a time in England when there were no last names. A father might have been William, and a mother, Mary, William's wife. A boy's name might have been Fred, son of William. What if another William moved into town? Let's say he was a tailor. He might have been called William the tailor to keep people from confusing the two Williams. The name would then have become William Taylor and his family would have the last name Taylor. This is how family names came to be.

'English 'names are 'made 'up of at 'least two parts: a 'first name and a 'last name.

'Many 'people in 'England are 'called 'William or 'Mary or 'John or Joy. 'These are their 'first names. 'How 'could you, then, 'tell the 'difference if they 'didn't have 'last names?
　　
But there was a 'time in 'England when there were 'no 'last names. A 'father might have been 'William, and a 'mother, 'Mary, William's wife. A 'boy's 'name might have been 'Fred, 'son of William. 'What if 'another 'William 'moved into town? 'Let's 'say he was a tailor. He might have been 'called William the tailor to 'keep 'people from con'fusing the 'two Williams. The 'name would 'then have be'come 'William 'Taylor and his 'family would have the 'last 'name Taylor. 'This is 'how 'family 'names 'came to be.