regency era last names

the regency era, a period in british history marked by elegance, manners, and achievements, also saw a proliferation of last names. this list contains some of the most common last names from the era, along with their popularity throughout the 19th century.

common last names

as with modern surnames, these last names were passed down through generations and often carried social status and prestige. some of the most common last names of the regency era included:

**johnson – 34%

lambert – 19%

wells – 9%

martin – 8%

richards – 8%

wood – 8%

moore – 7%

allen – 7%

hudson – 7%

wright – 7%

franklin – 7%

mcintosh – 7%(source:1891 cencus of england and wales)

other popular last names included:

**berry – 4%

brooke – 4%

clark – 4%

davis – 4%

forbes – 4%

gibson – 4%

hamilton – 4%(source:1891 census of england and wales)

common prefixes and suffixes

common prefixes and suffixes were often used in creating newlast names, as they could be easily added or removed as needed. some of the most common ones included:

• "son" (e.g., johnson -> johnson son, lyons -> lyons son)
• "thompson" (e.g., thomas -> thompson thomas)
• "william" (e.g., williamson -> williamson william)
• "murray" (e.g., murray murray)
• "brown" (e.g., brownbrown brown)

this led to the creation of many unique and amusing last names that were both elegant and common in the regency period.

aristocratic last names

some last names have aristocratic associations, often reflecting the wealth and status of their wearer. these include:

• howard (e.g., howard howard)
• cecil (e.g., cecil cecil)
• fitzgerald (e.g., fitzgerald fitzgerald)
• stuart (e.g., stuart stuart)

贵族姓氏的流行程度在不同的时期有所变化，例如：

• 1831年威尔斯顿霍尔家族有4个姐妹，其中只有2位结婚。
• 1822年格拉斯哥贵族姓氏列表中有8个姓氏。
• 1843年斯帕金顿家族姓氏的统计包括179个姓氏。

这些姓氏通常与家庭和社会地位有关，反映了当时社会对优雅和荣誉的追求。

historical context

the regency era last names were not only common in the lives of individuals but also held cultural significance. these names were often used as surnames by the nobility and gentry, who could afford to have their surnames recorded with the government.

as society evolved and became more democratic, these noble姓氏虽然仍然在社会上层中流行，但开始逐渐为更多普通民众所采用。这使得姓氏的多样性增加，从而丰富了英国社会的面貌。

last names in literature

literature of the regency era often reflects the fashion and usage of last names during that time. authors such as jane austen and georgette heyer have used common last names in their works to create believable characters, often without the need for further explanation.

for example, in pride and prejudice, elizabeth Bennet's last name, bennet, is a common middle-class surname, while frances de reamurie's last name, DE REAMURIE, suggests her aristocratic background.———-

the regency era last names, though often common, were not merely random strings of letters. they held historical and cultural significance, reflecting the values and norms of the time. today, these姓氏 continue to be used by descendants of the original bearers and are a valuable resource for understanding the social history of the early 19th century britain.