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I can only speak for Germany (from where my ancestors came). The advent of official German surnames occurred somewhere around the 11th or 12th century, I believe. Since people were already referred to by their occupational names, for example - Johann the Schneider (tailor), this practice was carried over to official surnames. In the case of Senne, it referred to the person whose occupation was to tend the Senne (the pasture). This usually indicated either a shepherd or dairy farmer.

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15y ago

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