Severoth's Surname Guide

[Severoth]

I started this thread because I noticed Skarlath had started a thread about surnames and people's concern about finding/picking one. Because this post is long, I decided to start a new thread with it. This guide is always open for additions and input, as I don't think it could ever be "complete." But for those of you undecided, unhappy, or just down right clueless about last names, maybe this will help you.

If you ever study the real-life origins of surnames, you'll discover that most surnames originally described a person's profession, place of origin, or identifying physical attribute. For example, once upon a time there were 2 "Johns" in a village in merry ole England. To distinguish betweem the two, the villagers labeled one "John the Blacksmith" and the other "John the Carpenter." As it happens with all languages, this got shortened, abbreviated, or contracted until "John the Blacksmith" is just "John Smith" and "John the Carpenter" is just "John Carpenter."

Along these lines, I like to use this real-life naming convention. I try to choose a descriptive last name that describes my character's class/profession/skill, physical/personality attribute, and/or place of origin. I really like compound surnames (surname composed of what would otherwise be two words...i.e. Black/Silver/Gold & Smith, etc.). So I had a brainstorming session to jot down words that kept with the medieval fantasy theme. By no means am I saying this is "the way" naming should be done. Of course not. Surnames can be whatever you want, even in a racial language, etc. This is just the way I like to do surnames for these games, and I'm sharing my brainstorming session to help others who are having a hard time. If you like this method, feel free to use it and my ideas. If you don't, cool, just don't flame me about how you think my naming convention is wrong/bad. I never claimed it was good/correct.

I labeled one list "prefixes" and one "suffixes." Now, technically they aren't pre/suffixes because I'm not attaching them to a base word. By prefix, I mean "first word." By suffix, I mean "second word." For example, combine prefix "Jungle" with suffix "Stalker" to get surname "Junglestalker." I'm sure plenty of my prefixes would work as suffixes and vice versa. But I've listed them how I would use them. Many prefix and suffix combinations may be nonsensical or unoriginal. And by no means is my list complete. Just a brainstorming session to get the name-game going.

Surname Examples:
Spirit(caller/guide/summoner)
(Feral/Primal/Savage/Brutal)spirit
(Sky/Wind/Earth)caller
(Sky/Wind/Earth)channeler
Arcanum
Soul(reaper/weaver)
(Fear/Shadow/Soul/Death/Terror/Pain)master
(Fear/Shadow/Soul/Death/Terror/Pain/Plague)bringer
Harbringer
Immolater
Incinerator
Soulharvester
Abjudicator
Arbitrator
Ambusher
Coldbringer
Chillbane
Maelstrom
Vagabond
Transfigurer
Shapeshifter
Brimstone
Tormentor
Exorcist

Surname Prefixes:
Magic-
Spell-
Phantom-
Fel-
Demonic-
Evil-
Nemesis-
Nether-
Aeon-
Ether-
Astral-
Arcan-
Elemental-
Plan(e/ar)-
Aero-
Pyro-
Hydro-
Geo-
Tide-
Wave-
Sea-
Terra-
Aqua-
Respir-
Holy-
Divine-
Light-
Dark-
Blood-
Life-
Plague-
Disease-
Night-
Eclipse-
Toxic-
Poison-
Venom-
Chaos-
Justice-
Righteous-
Retribution-
Mind-
Psychic-
Mental-
Telekinetic-
Focus-(could also be suffix)
Sonic-
Beast-
- (i.e. Wolfsbane, Dragonslayer, Serpenttongue, Beasttamer, Phoenixrider)
[insert God of Vanguard's name]-
[insert weapon type]- (i.e. Shieldbearer, Swordmaster, Hammersmight, Orbwielder)
Oracle-(could also be suffix)
Prophet-(could also be suffix)
Scion-(could also be suffix)
Aegis-(could also be suffix)
Templar-(could also be suffix)
Archon-(could also be suffix)
Shock-(could also be suffix)
Tremor-
Harmony-
Melody-
Tune-
Chord-
Anarchy-
Dischord-
Music-
Tree-
Nature-
Vale/Grove/Forest/Woods/Jungle/[insert terrain type]-(i.e. desertwanderer, mountainscaler, hillstrider, valleyrunner)
Lunar-
Solar-
Moon-
Star-
Rune-
Sand-
Dune-
Storm-
Swift-
Wild-
Elder-
Ancient-
Ancestral-
Voodoo-
Obsidian-
Crystal/[insert jewel/stone name]-
Void-
Grave-
Ghost-
Dread-
Lycan-
Carnage-(could also be suffix)
Mayhem-(could also be suffix)
Cannibal-(could also be suffix)
Celestial-
Blaze-
Scorch-
Vortex-
Portal-

Surname Suffixes:
-lord
-mancer
-bearer
-master
-tamer
-caller
-channeler
-(en)chanter
-(mes)meriser
-weaver
-mage
-sage
-reaper
-reaver
-defiler
-corrupter
-bane
-ravager
-(e/in)voker
-conjurer
-summoner
-scorcher
-blaze(r)
-diviner
-restorer
-walker
-blade
-seer
-seeker
-searcher
-chemist
-storm
-avenger
-bringer
-killer
-slayer
-crusher
-destoyer
-annihilator
-devourer
-forger
-maker
-crafter
-mander
-blaster
-melder
-wielder
-bender
-warper
-traveler
-wanderer
-strider
-runner
-rider
-saver
-collector
-defender
-protector
-guard(ian)
-keeper
-(be)holder
-sentry
-sentinel
-scout
-lurker
-guide
-priest(ess)
-healer
-smiter
-shaker
-striker
-singer
-minion
-hunt(er/ress)
-stalker
-knight
-witch/warlock
-wizard
-wrath
-crusader
-liberator
-crucifier
-punisher
-speaker
-trader
-hailer
-[stone]mason
-[metal]smith
-might
-sight
-avatar
-manifest
-creator
-shaper
-sculptor
-scripter
-synergy
-shifter
-symbiant
-communer
-hand
-tongue
-eye
-head
-heart
-foot
-scale
-claw
-talon
-balancer
-giver
-taker
-mediator
-messenger
-carrier
-courrier
-merchant
-worker
-fury
-rage
-vanquisher
-ist (i.e. Arcanist, Alchemist, Elementalist)


Telon Lore Places: (Telon is the world of Vanguard:SoH)
Thestra (the "European" starting continent)
Kojan (the "Eastern/Oriental" starting continent)
Qalia (the "Middle-Eastern" starting continent)
[I]More Upcoming...


Telon Lore Gods: (Telon is the world of Vanguard:SoH)
Upcoming...


Mythical/Magical Creature Names:
Pegasus
Phoenix
Hydra
Cerberus
Cyclops
Goliath
Valkyrie
Kraken
Golem
Dragon
Drake
Vampire
Lycan
Banshee
Imp
Giant
Succubus
Incubus
Troll
Ogre
Kobold
Gnoll
Basilisk
Wyvern
Gryphon
Unicorn
Centaur
Minotaur
Gargoyle
Thunderbird
Wil'o'wisp
Dryad
Mite
Spectre
Liche
Wraith
Chimera
[insert Vangaurd race here]

[Severoth]

Remember, Vanguard lore might be a good place to search for names of places and gods to incorporate into a surname. Just check out the lore at http://www.vanguardsoh.com/lore.php.

[Labyrrinth]

Very nice list Severoth. I always did (and do) have trouble with being creative when it comes to game names. This is a fantastic starting point!

Thanks a ton :)

[Doresain]

Nice list Severoth, thanks!

[Raijyn]

Nice list. I also go looking at ancient God names for elements and etc for them. Ive gotten some really cool names from there as well.

[Skarlath]

Nice :)