surname : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: surname	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for surname
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
surname n the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name) Synonym(s): surname, family name, cognomen, last name
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Surname \Surname"\, 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 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. [bd]My surname, Coriolanus.[b8] --Shak. Note: This word has been sometimes written sirname, as if it signified sire-name, or the name derived from one's father.