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

to-name (plural to-names)

  1. A name added to another name; surname.
  2. 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.

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