Quote Originally Posted by jfellrath
Possibly the Russians... perhaps not formally, as your last name is always your father's first name plus "ovitch" but as a nickname/friendly name.
Ah, thank you. I had heard of the Russian method, but had forgotten it.

Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot
The prefix "Fitz" is actually a Norman term for "son of" -- That is why you have many Irish surnames like Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick, FitzWilliam, etc., because the Normans were "invited" to Ireland in 1169 and were soon assimilated into Irish society. The Anglo-Normans also moved to Scotland, and some of the most famous Scottish names -- Bruce, Hay, Grant, etc. are actually Norman in origin.
My family's Irish name Bennett is probably from the French Benoit.

Quote Originally Posted by shay
Also don't forget that folks Americanize their names_ Sean vs Shawn, Shevonne vs Siobhan, etc- IIRC, it was common practice to immigrant officers here to make up a name spelling when pressed for time or faced with someone they couldn't understand well.
My forefather Johann Brücher, one of many German immigrants living in Wisconsin, enlisted in the Civil War. The enlisting officer couldn't figure out his German name, so he became John Breecher in official paperwork.

Andrew.