Middle English Dictionary Entry
surnāme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | surnāme n. |
| Etymology | From nāme n., prob. modeled on OF sornom, etc., for which see ME surnǒun n.] |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An additional name, usu. derived from a quality, an achievement, or a place and attached to one's given name; also fig. [quot. a1449]; also, an epithet; a suffixed name-element [quot. a1387]; (b) a last name, surname; a family name, cognomen; (c) an alternative name or title; also, a distinguishing name [quot. a1500].
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)5488 : Osoman..His surname was 'hardi of hert.'
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.279 : Som men clepeþ her mawmet Beel..and som ȝaf here mawmettes a surname and cleped hir names Belphegor and..Belsebub.
- a1425 SLeg.Magd.(2) (Trin-C R.3.25)18 : In þe castel of Magdale þis womman [Mary] was ybore; Magdalene yclyped was heo & hire surname þerfore.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)60/17 : Founded Eleazar of Damasc..þe citee, called Damasc after his surename.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.29/22 : A Certeyne dropik mane..bare his surname of the happe of this siknes.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.325 : Marcus Manlius..gat hym a surname To be callid Marchus Capitolyne.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Friend AN (Ashm 59)103 : Þey of frenship bere but þe surname.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)823 : Þes word 'Astrolages' Was surname to hem both, aftir hir sciencis.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)147/28 : A noble knyght..toke on of their castellis..called Tholonon, for whiche..he was named Thalamus in hir [read: his] sourname.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)28 : Hir surname is eek Faire Rewthelees, The Wyse, yknit unto Good Aventure.
b
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.369 : Þat is noþer reisonable ne rect to refusy my syres sorname.
- (1415) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)49 : Y wil..þat John Cheyne my sone..if he die withoute eir male, þat forsaid swerd..turne to my next heir malis þat beren þe surname of Cheyne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.512 : Thi name and also thi surname..May be registrid in the Hous off Fame.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1309 : Guyllyam..he hyhte; Hys surname I nat ne knew.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)153/1 : The Romayns..made wryte their names and their surnames and the grete pryncipall dedis that they had doone.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)177/29 : The bourgeis..haue a propre surname and auncient armes.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)123b : A Surname: Cognomen quod quis habet ab origine.
- c1480 *Medulla (Pep 2002)48a : Cognomino: to geve syrname [Stnh: clepe by sirnome].
c
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.35.6 : Jacob cam to Lusa, which is in the lond of Canaan, bi sire name Bethel.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.47.19 : The name of the Lord, to whom the surname [WB(1): toname] is God of Israel.
- a1500 Rich.(Hrl 4690)1855 : Surname [vr. sirename; Auch: Mi castel schal haue a sornoun; It schal be hoten þe mate griffoun].
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)124/712 : The church is called St. Marye; The surname is Ara Caeli.