surname

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Anyone with an "O" at the start of their surname is Irish by me - and capable of great flair too, by the way, just think of the likes of Liam O 'Flaherty and Brian O' Driscoll.

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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 (50)

  • “King Aydrian Boudabras,” Aydrian replied, taking an elvish word as his surname, a word that Jilseponie surely understood. —  ASCENDANCE
  • Neither the Christian nor the surname were common ones. —  Through the Wall - Miss Silver - 1950 - Wentworth, Patricia
  • Name Penny (the surname was also appropriate but can't for identification reasons tell), Sex - Male. —  TravelPod.com Recent Updates
  • Anyone with an "O" at the start of their surname is Irish by me - and capable of great flair too, by the way, just think of the likes of Liam O 'Flaherty and Brian O' Driscoll. —  BlogCymru.com
  • Christian background (the surname is a quick clue if you didn't know ahead of time). —  ScienceBlogs Channel : Life Science
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Words tagged surname

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This word has been looked up 148 times.

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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.
 

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/ˈsərneɪm/
by American Heritage

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