to-name
See also: toname
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English toname, tonome, from Old English tōnama (“surname”), equivalent to to- + name. Cognate with West Frisian tanamme, Dutch toenaam, Middle Low German toname, German Zuname, Danish tilnavn, Swedish tillnamn.
Noun
- A name added to another name; surname.
- A name in addition to the Christian name and surname of an individual.
Usage notes
- Used to distinguish an individual from others of the same name and usually indicating descent, place of residence, or some personal quality or attribute. Such to-names are often employed where the same families continually intermarry, and where consequently the same name is common to many individuals.