what does the surname mean
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 and many dictionaries define surname as a synonym of family name.In the western hemisphere, it is commonly synonymous with last name, since it is usually placed at the end of a person's given name.he style of having both a family name and a given name is far from universal. In many countries it is common for ordinary people to have only one name or mononym. The concept of a 'surname' is a relatively recent historical development, evolving from a medieval naming practice called a 'byname'.