Surʹname (2 syl.)

The over-name; either the name written over the Christian name, or given over and above it; an additional name. For a long time persons had no family name, but only one, and that a personal name. Surnames are not traced farther back than the latter part of the tenth century.

Surnames of places.

In ford, in ham, and ley, and ton.

The most of English surnames run.

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.