surname

Etymology

From Middle English surname, a partial calque of Old French surnum, surnoun (“surname; nickname”) (whence Middle English surnoun), from Late Latin supernōmen, suprānōmen (“surname”), from super- (“over, above, beyond”) and nōmen (“name”)..

noun

1. (obsolete) Synonym of epithet, an additional name, particularly those derived from a birthplace, quality, or achievement.
   My sirname is Peace-Maker, one that is but poorely regarded in England. 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
2. (obsolete) Synonym of nickname, an additional name given to a person, place, or thing, a byname.
   I have before declared that Baal was the Sun, and Baal Peor, a sirname, from a particular place of his worship. 1638, Abraham Cowley, Davideis, section IV
3. The name a person shares with other members of that person's family, distinguished from that person's given name or names; a family name.
   James is my first name, and Smith is my surname.
   In late yeeres Surnames have beene given for Christian names among vs, and no where else in Christendom. 1605, William Camden, Remaines, I 32
   The Norman Conquest...brought with it the novelty of family nomenclature, that is to say, the use of hereditary surnames. 1876, E. A. Freeman, The History of the Norman Conquest, V xxv 563
4. (Classical studies) The cognomen of Roman names.
5. (Scotland, obsolete) A clan.
   The surnam and nerrest of blude to the said Williame. 1455 in J. D. Marwick, Charters of Edinburgh (1871), 79

verb

1. (transitive) To give a surname to.
2. (transitive) To call by a surname.