SURNAME

surname. Surname, n. a family name, one added to the original babtismal name

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Sur″name′ (?), n. [[Pref. sur + name; really a substitution for OE. sournoun, from F. surnom. See Sur-, and Noun, Name.]] 1. 1. A name or appellation which is added to, or over and above, the baptismal or Christian name, and becomes a family name.
☞ 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. 2. An appellation added to the original name; an agnomen. “My surname, Coriolanus.” Shak.
☞ This word has been sometimes written sirname, as if it signified sire-name, or the name derived from one's father.