Register for Webinar Wednesday — Surname Origins – Why? When? Why then? by Wayne Shepheard

Geoff Rasmussen

19 Apr 2023

The use of surnames dates back only to the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. Almost all 9th and 10th century records show only one name for individuals. A pattern began to emerge in the late 12th century with regard to references to manors, estates and monasteries. This presentation will show, through examples from many types of documents produced during the medieval period, how the Little Ice Age climatic downturn impacted living conditions and imposed what would have been a major impetus to identify people. The use of a surname became the favoured and logical method to do so.

Test Your Webinar Connection

To ensure that your webinar connection is ready to go, click here.

Can't make it to the live event?

No worries. Its recording will be available for a limited time. Webinar Subscribers have unlimited access to all webinar recordings for the duration of their membership.

About the presenter

Wayne Shepheard graduated in Geology from the University of Calgary and spent over 40 years applying his knowledge and expertise in the exploration for oil and gas, primarily in Western Canada. Following retirement, he has spent his time mostly doing family history research, exploring ancestral relationships in North America, Europe and the United Kingdom. Wayne also is active in expanding his interest in and writing about natural phenomena and their impacts on people and communities.

His view is that humankind has always had to adapt to the ever-changing physical environments in which they lived. In is his genealogical work, Wayne has been particularly mindful of stories concerning families that were both negatively and positively impacted by changes to their habitat and to disasters which sometimes overwhelmed them.

He volunteers as an Online Parish Clerk, handling four parishes in Devon, England. He is an author of several articles published in a number of different family history publications and has made a number of presentations to local societies. Wayne writes a regular genealogical blog, Discover Genealogy, set up to tell stories, relate experiences and pass along tips discovered during his genealogical studies.

Wayne lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Add it to your Google Calendar

With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again – the new webinar events will automatically appear.

Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at:

2pm Eastern (U.S.)
1pm Central
12pm Mountain
11am Pacific

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

Register at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com today. It's free!
You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
You will receive a reminder email both 1 day and 1 hour prior to the live webinar.
Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
Check your GoToWebinar connection here.
Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone.