surname

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“
That seems to me to be a sensible approach, since the only way properly to investigate a surname is to go back through the male line as far as possible, noting the various spellings of the name, where the family was living in past centuries, and so on.

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Definitions (8)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun A name shared in common to identify the members of a family, as distinguished from each member's given name. Also called family name, last name.
  2. noun A nickname or epithet added to a person's name.
  3. transitive verb To give a surname to.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples

  • Your ever affectionate E.B.B. [Footnote 153: This surname is a mistake on Mrs. Browning's part; see her letter of October 1, 1849.] [Footnote 154: See Lady Geraldine's Courtship, stanza xli.] —  The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
  • That seems to me to be a sensible approach, since the only way properly to investigate a surname is to go back through the male line as far as possible, noting the various spellings of the name, where the family was living in past centuries, and so on. —  VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XVII No 4
  • Einstein would point out that his surname is another double violation. —  VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XIV No 1
  • "You must realize, M'Lud, that my surname is Russian," I said. —  An Autobiography
  • Even Bev Perdue, whose friggin 'surname is French for "lost," probably won't. —  damnum absque injuria
 

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Words tagged surname

Maybrick · Mainwaring's · irvy · medri

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Surname has been looked up 196 times, favorited 0 times, listed 4 times, and commented on once.

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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, partial translation of Old French surnom : sur-, sur- + nom, name.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Formerly also sirname; as sur- + name, after F. surnom, Old French surnom, surnon (later English surnoun) = Spanish sobrenombre = Portuguese sobrenome = Italian soprannome, from Middle Latin supernomen, a surname, from Latin super, over, + nomen, name: see name, nomen.
  2. from surname, n., after F. surnommer, Old French surnomer = Portuguese sobrenomear = Italian soprannomare, from Late Latin supernominare, name besides, from Latin super, over,+ nominare, name: see nominate.
 

Pronunciations
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/ˈsərneɪm/
by American Heritage

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