https://berrytree.org/tags/france/Recent content in France on Berrytree.orgHugoen-ushttps://berrytree.org/books/wagons-south-wagons-west/ch01-origin-of-the-surname/Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000https://berrytree.org/books/wagons-south-wagons-west/ch01-origin-of-the-surname/<div class="ancestor-page"> <header class="book-banner" role="banner"> <a href="https://berrytree.org/books/wagons-south-wagons-west/"> <span class="book-banner-title">Wagons South and Wagons West</span> <span class="book-banner-author">by Glenn Berry</span> </a> </header> <div class="book-chapter-nav"> <p><a href="https://berrytree.org/books/wagons-south-wagons-west/bibliography/">← Bibliography</a> | <a href="https://berrytree.org/books/wagons-south-wagons-west/">Table of Contents</a></p> </div> <hr> <h2 id="chapter-i">Chapter I<a class="anchor" href="#chapter-i">#</a></h2> <h1 id="origin-of-the-surname">Origin of the Surname<a class="anchor" href="#origin-of-the-surname">#</a></h1> <p>The family name BERRY is a good example of the evolutionary nature of names. People took as surnames the names of flowers, fish, animals, birds, and occupations. But by far, one of the most common sources of surnames was place names. The name BERRY is a derivative of the Old English suffix <em>burg</em>, indicating one who lived at or near a hill, stronghold, or fortified place. Thus, the surname BERRY became a frequent name in a large category of surnames derived from place names. Because of the evolutionary nature of name development, it is virtually impossible to pinpoint the exact date of the formation of any new name. BERRY, of course, is no exception. However, some of the ancient records of the English nation give evidence of early forms of the name and show usage as early as 1513. (<a href="https://berrytree.org/books/wagons-south-wagons-west/bibliography/#ref-III">III; p.3</a>)</p>