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surnamemore about surname

surname

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Surname  \Sur"name`\,  n.  [Pref.  sur  +  name  really  a  substitution 
  for  OE  sournoun  from  F.  surnom  See  {Sur-},  and  {Noun}, 
  {Name}.] 
  1.  A  name  or  appellation  which  is  added  to  or  over  and 
  above,  the  baptismal  or  Christian  name  and  becomes  a 
  family  name 
 
  Note:  Surnames  originally  designated  occupation,  estate, 
  place  of  residence,  or  some  particular  thing  or  event 
  that  related  to  the  person;  thus  Edmund  Ironsides; 
  Robert  Smith,  or  the  smith;  William  Turner.  Surnames 
  are  often  also  patronymics;  as  John  Johnson. 
 
  2.  An  appellation  added  to  the  original  name  an  agnomen. 
  ``My  surname,  Coriolanus.''  --Shak. 
 
  Note:  This  word  has  been  sometimes  written  sirname,  as  if  it 
  signified  sire-name,  or  the  name  derived  from  one's 
  father. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Surname  \Sur*name"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Surnamed};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Surnaming}.]  [Cf.  F.  surnommer.] 
  To  name  or  call  by  an  appellation  added  to  the  original  name 
  to  give  a  surname  to 
 
  Another  shall  subscribe  with  his  hand  unto  the  Lord, 
  and  surname  himself  by  the  name  of  Israel.  --Isa.  xliv. 
  5. 
 
  And  Simon  he  surnamed  Peter.  --Mark  iii. 
  16. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  surname 
  n  :  the  name  used  to  identify  the  members  of  a  family  (as 
  distinguished  from  each  member's  given  name)  [syn:  {family 
  name},  {cognomen},  {last  name}]




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