surname

Pluralsurnames

Formssurnames, surnaming, surnamed

1. 1
   family namenouncountable

   The family name, the part of a name people usually get from their family, not their first name.

   Please write your surname on the top line of the form.

   Our teacher calls the students by their surnames.

   Note
2. 2
   assign a nameverbtransitive

   To give someone a family name or an extra name like 'the Wise', or to call them by it.

   A woman surnamed Chen answered the door and said her husband was out.

   The old king was surnamed "the Good" because he cared for the poor.

   UsageOften surnamed: a man surnamed Lee.

   Similarname, call, dub, style

   Note
3. 3
   extra namenounobsolete

   An extra name or nickname given to a person or place, often for where they came from or what they did.

   Barsabas (whose syrname was Iustus).

   1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt (Tyndale Bible)Here, syrname means an extra name or nickname, Justus.

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

   c. 1608, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”Here, sur-name means an extra name or title given to him.

   Note

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