Geoff, from Chepstow, was interviewed by Charlotte Evans for
Look Up Your Genes, the family history programme on BBC Radio Wales.
He says that surnames were first used as far back as 1150, initially by the landed gentry in the south east as a means to let them pass their property onto their descendents.
Geographic surnames were particularly common, for example John of Kidwelly would become John Kidwelly.
Meanwhile locative surnames indicated what part of a village people lived in, such as Gracie Fields, Pete Townsend and Max Bygraves, whose ancestors probably lived near a cemetery.
Occupations gave rise to surnames such as Baker (like actor Stanley above), Smith, Thatcher, and Fletcher, a maker of arrows.
Double barrelled surnames became common among the upper classes to preserve entitlements to bear arms and inherit property from both sides of the family upon marriage.
Geoff warns that genealogists will be challenged by the modern day prevalence of unmarried couples whose children may not take the father's surname.
He says such people will need to keep track of their own family trees for the sake of future generations.
More about Look Up Your Genes on BBC Radio Wales
