[name_m]Hi[/name_m] Berries,
Lately, I’ve came across last names that start with St.
I’m curious how it came about and its significance… could anyone enlighten me?
I read somewhere that “In Spain another origin for “St. Whomever” last names were children abandoned at the door of convents. Instead of last names, they were given the name of the convent.”
Wow that’s lovely! Can’t help much with that, but as I really like St.X surnames I’m looking forward to read other more helpful responses 
I’m glad you’re as curious as I am! 
Bump! Any of our knowledgable Berries who know the story behind St. Names?
A lot of places were names after Saints back then, and generally you were known by the name of the place you were from. For instance, if you were from St. [name_u]Jean[/name_u] Normandy, you could have been known as [name_m]Pierre[/name_m] St. [name_m]John[/name_m]. And the scenario you already mentioned was another leading origin of St. names. I believe, also, that if you were a descendent of a known saint, you could be known by their name, i.e. if you were a descendent of [name_m]King[/name_m] St. [name_m]Louis[/name_m]. I love St. names personally; as you can see I have St. [name_m]George[/name_m] in my signature {because who doesn’t love the story of St. [name_m]George[/name_m] and the Dragon?}. I also love the names St. [name_m]Just[/name_m], St. Cyr, St. Maur, St. [name_m]Charles[/name_m], St. [name_f]Fleur[/name_f], and St. [name_u]Clair[/name_u]; particularly the former-most two <3 I’ve been on the hunt for more, too!
Thanks for your helpful reply, chrisco!
However, I don’t get the “If you were from St. [name_u]Jean[/name_u] Normandy, you could have been known as [name_m]Pierre[/name_m] St. [name_m]John[/name_m]” link.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] St. [name_m]Just[/name_m], St. Cyr, St. Maur, St. [name_m]Charles[/name_m], St. Fleu, and St. [name_u]Clair[/name_u] that you mention are well-known saints? Is it possible to create your own St. name? Like pairing St. with a name I like? o:
The first St. Name I heard was from a fictional story where one of the main characters had the family name of St. [name_m]Croix[/name_m] which I thought was absolutely amazing and paired well with their first names
If your last name is St. [name_m]John[/name_m] (for example) do you ever use [name_m]Saint[/name_m] [name_m]John[/name_m]? In our computer age sometimes computers don’t take the non-alpha character. I’ve noticed at my work an O’[name_m]Brien[/name_m] becoming [name_m]Obrien[/name_m]. So annoying!
Oh, sorry for the confusion. [name_m]John[/name_m] being the anglicized form of [name_u]Jean[/name_u], that would have only been used had the said [name_m]Pierre[/name_m] moved abroad {say, [name_f]England[/name_f]}. St. [name_u]Jean[/name_u] would be more accurate in [name_f]France[/name_f]. St. [name_m]Charles[/name_m], St. Maur, St. [name_u]Clair[/name_u] {[name_u]Clare[/name_u]}, St. [name_m]Just[/name_m]{in}, St. [name_f]Fleur[/name_f] {[name_f]Flora[/name_f]} and St. Cyr {Cyriacus} are saints, though some are not well known. Although I don’t think that it would be accurate to place a St. in front of just any name, it is definitely possible. But there are so many variants from real saints’ names that you have a slew of options. St. [name_m]Croix[/name_m]'s origin is different than most St. names; it derives from [name_f]Santa[/name_f] [name_u]Cruz[/name_u], which means “Holy [name_m]Cross[/name_m]”.
That’s very informative, chrisco! Thanks a lot! Is there a list of St. Names I can find online? I’d like to see what other options there are.
I haven’t found a list of names yet with the St. placed conveniently in front of them {I’m still searching!} I suggest going to Catholic.org, and onward to the Saints & Angels section. They have pretty much every [name_m]Saint[/name_m] there, and all of those names can be used with a St. accurately : ) [name_m]Just[/name_m] make sure you don’t mistake the Saints for the Blesseds. Good luck!
I have Ste. Gemme in my ancestry. It’s a variation of [name_u]James[/name_u], but not sure why it’s feminized.