Apparently one of my Irish ancestors did something to warrant granting a family crest (a blue boar on white, with 3 red crosses), but I've never found out any details, other than they were from Roscommon and migrated to Cork. On this side of the pond, they were farmers.

People with Mom's surname hailed from a small town in Normandy - over here they were shopkeepers, trappers and laborers.

Aren't the 1300's about as far back as one can go (excepting nobility, who had chroniclers) for Europeans, surnames not being adopted 'til around then? Asian surnames, OTOH can be traceable way back BCE, yes?