surname
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: sûrʹnām'
ipa: /ˈsɝˌneɪm/
enpr: sûʹnām'
ipa: /ˈsɜːˌneɪm/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)neɪm
Forms: form: surnames
form: sirname
form: sur-name
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English surname, a partial calque of Old French surnum, surnoun (“surname; nickname”) (whence Middle English surnoun), from Late Latin supernōmen, suprānōmen (“surname”), from super- (“over, above, beyond”) and nōmen (“name”), equivalent to sur- + name.
Senses: examples: text: James is my first name, and Smith is my surname.
text: In late yeeres Surnames have beene given for Christian names among vs, and no where else in Christendom.
ref: 1605, William Camden, Remaines, I 32:
text: The Norman Conquest...brought with it the novelty of family nomenclature, that is to say, the use of hereditary surnames.
ref: 1876, E. A. Freeman, The History of the Norman Conquest, V xxv 563:
glosses: The portion of a person's name that is generally hereditary or treated as an indicator of a person's family, which may be shared with other members of the family, or otherwise derived from their names in some fashion; distinguished from that person's given name(s).
examples: text: Barsabas (whose syrname was Iustus).
ref: 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts j:[23]:
text: My sirname is Peace-Maker, one that is but poorely regarded in England.
ref: 1590, Richard Harvey, Plaine Percevall the peace-maker of England, Sweetly indeuoring with his blunt persuasions to botch vp a reconciliation between Mar-ton and Mar-tother, B3:
text: To his sur-name Coriolanus longs more pride
Then pitty to our Prayers.
ref: c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], line 171:
glosses: Synonym of epithet, an additional name, particularly those derived from a birthplace, quality, or achievement.
synonyms: word: epithet
extra: an additional name, particularly those derived from a birthplace, quality, or achievement
examples: text: I have before declared that Baal was the Sun, and Baal Peor, a sirname, from a particular place of his worship.
ref: 1638, Abraham Cowley, Davideis, section IV:
glosses: Synonym of nickname, an additional name given to a person, place, or thing, a byname.
synonyms: word: nickname
extra: an additional name given to a person, place, or thing, a byname
glosses: The cognomen of Roman names.
glosses: A clan.
Synonyms: word: last name
word: cognomen
word: family name
word: surname
word: to-name
Hypernyms: word: name
word: anthroponym
Hyponyms: word: bride's name
english: surname prior to marriage
translation: surname prior to marriage
word: maiden name
word: patronym
english: a surname specifically referencing one's father's given name
translation: a surname specifically referencing one's father's given name
word: patronymic
word: matronym
english: a surname specifically referencing one's mother's given name
translation: a surname specifically referencing one's mother's given name
word: matronymic
word: eponym
word: nomen
word: occupational surname
Coordinate terms: given name
middle name
epithet
cognomen
nickname
aneponymous
Derived terms: occupational surname
surnameless
surnominal
Related terms: word: aftername
word: aneponymous
word: surnameless