surname

surname
surname early 14c., "name, title, or epithet added to a person's name," from sur "above" (see SUR- (Cf. sur-)) + NAME (Cf. name); modeled on Anglo-Fr. surnoun "surname" (early 14c.), variant of O.Fr. surnom, from sur "over" + nom "name." An O.E. word for this was freonama, lit. "free name." Meaning "family name" is first found late 14c. Hereditary surnames existed among Norman nobility in England in early 12c., among common people began to be used 13c., increasingly frequent until near universal by end of 14c. The process was later in the north of England than the south. The verb is attested from 1540s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Surname — Sur*name , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Surnamed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Surnaming}.] [Cf. F. surnommer.] To name or call by an appellation added to the original name; to give a surname to. [1913 Webster] Another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Surname — Sur name , n. [Pref. sur + name; really a substitution for OE. sournoun, from F. surnom. See {Sur }, and {Noun}, {Name}.] 1. A name or appellation which is added to, or over and above, the baptismal or Christian name, and becomes a family name.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • surname — [sʉr′nām΄] n. [ME < sur (see SUR 1) + name, infl. by earlier surnoun < OFr surnom < sur + nom < L nomen,NAME] 1. the family name, or last name, as distinguished from a given name 2. a name or epithet added to a person s given name (Ex …   English World dictionary

  • surname — index call (title) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • surname — [n] family name cognomen, last name, matronymic, metronymic, patronymic; concepts 268,683 …   New thesaurus

  • surname — ► NOUN ▪ a hereditary name common to all members of a family, as distinct from a forename …   English terms dictionary

  • Surname — Not to be confused with Suriname. A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define surname as a synonym of family name . In some Western countries, it is …   Wikipedia

  • surname — n. /serr naym /; v. /serr naym , serr naym /, n., v., surnamed, surnaming. n. 1. the name that a person has in common with other family members, as distinguished from a Christian name or given name; family name. 2. a name added to a person s name …   Universalium

  • surname — noun (esp. BrE) ADJECTIVE ▪ double barrelled (BrE) ▪ common ▪ Rossi is a common surname in Italy. VERB + SURNAME ▪ bear, have …   Collocations dictionary

  • surname — [[t]sɜ͟ː(r)neɪm[/t]] surnames N COUNT Your surname is the name that you share with other members of your family. In English speaking countries and many other countries it is your last name. She d never known his surname... The majority of British …   English dictionary

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