Surname Definition

sûrnām

surnamed, surnames, surnaming

noun

surnames

The family name, or last name, as distinguished from a given name.

Webster's New World

A name or epithet added to a person's given name (Ex.: Ivan the Terrible)

Webster's New World

1526, Tyndale's Bible, Acts I"‰23

Barsabas (whose syrname was Iustus).

Wiktionary

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

My sirname is Peace-Maker, one that is but poorely regarded in England.

Wiktionary

C."‰1607, William Shakespeare, Coriolanus, V"‰iii"‰171

To his sur-name Coriolanus longs more prideThen pitty to our Prayers.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

verb

surnamed, surnames

To give a surname to.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Surname

Noun

Singular:

surname

Plural:

surnames

Origin of Surname

From a variety of spellings in Middle English, from Norman and Old French surnom (“surname"), formed from Old French sur- ("super-"; earlier sor-, sour-, &c.) + nom (“name"), a calque of late Latin supernōmen and suprānōmen (“surname"), from Latin super- (“over, above, beyond") and nōmen (“name").

From Wiktionary
Middle English partial translation of Old French surnom sur- sur- nom name

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition