What is a Surname?

Question

What is a Surname?

and can you supply an example?

thanks

Answer 1

(m)

family name, surname, or last name is the part of a person's name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. Until the 12th century, most people throughout the world did not use or have a family name, and they were called by the single name they had (which was called a "first" or "given name" only after family names came into use). One of the most accepted theories for the origin of surname use attributes their introduction to the Normans and the Domesday Book of 1086. The use of surnames gradually became an accepted practice throughout Western Europe in the Middle Ages. In parts of the world, family names did not appear in common use until the 17th to 19th centuries, and they are unused in some cultures even today.

In most cultures of the world outside of Europe (and outside of the predominantly European cultures in North and South America and Australia), as well as in Hungary, the family name is typically spoken and written first when referring to an individual. This order is often erroneously called the Eastern order because Europeans are most familiar with the examples of China, Japan and Korea. In most Western cultures, the family name is today given last, giving rise to the term last name for family name. However, even in some Western countries, the family name is used last only in writing and formal speech, and the inverse order is still very common in normal everyday speech. In addition, many if not most Western cultures originally used the family name first even in writing and formal speech. So in fact, the majority of the world's cultures still use the family name first. Interestingly, most Western credit card companies use the family name first and without a comma. This is in violation of normal spelling rules observed in the West in situations in which it is convenient to list family names first (e.g. in libraries).

In countries that use family names, these are most often used to refer to a stranger in a formal setting, often with the use of a title such as Mr. or Mrs. (or equivalent). The first name, given name, or personal name is the one used by friends, family, and other intimates.

Answer 2

A surname is the last name. Ex: Adam Smith. The surname would be Smith.

Answer 3

If we've been merely mutually some months and the baby replaced into residing with me i could provide it my surname I even have my dads surname and we don't even communicate and it somewhat annoys me that I even have his call even with the undeniable fact that if i replaced into to have a infant with my boyfriend (i'm 18,19 this 3 hundred and sixty 5 days) and we've been mutually for 4 years(5 years this 3 hundred and sixty 5 days) i could provide it his final call by using fact as quickly as we get married i could desire us to all have a similar final call the only situation i could have is his call is unquestionably complicated and 3 syllables long as even even with the undeniable fact that he's English he has a polish final call lol even even with the undeniable fact that your chum and her boyfriend broke up I do think of if he remains in touch with the baby and she or he's happy together with his call then there won't be a controversy , its distinctive difficulty to alter a recognition from time to time

Answer 4

The other answers are correct, but surnames as we know them in the western world haven't always existed. They came about to distinguish one "John" from another. John's son, became Johnson. Many came from their professions. Cartwright was a boat builder, etc. The surname became more and more important as the communities grew and people didn't know everyone intimately any longer.
Sorry, I am bored and got carried away. LOL 2 points please.

Answer 5

A surname to a royal family is their last name say for example Miss Lilly Appleby marries Jack Morris and she will become Lily Appleby Morris.

Answer 6

Surname is a last name. I.e. John Smith -- surname = Smith

Answer 7

A last name. Prince Charles' surname is Windsor.

Answer 8

Its the last name you have by birth. If you are a married woman, you might change your last name to your husband's. For example, you were born Mary Jones, and you married Jeff Smith, and you might change your name to Mary Smith, but your surname will be Jones.

Answer 9

A surname is your last name. Example: Mandy Moore, her surname is Moore.

Answer 10

Your family's name.
ex: John(name) smit(surname)