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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Surname \Sur"name'\, noun [Pref. sur + name; really a substitution for OE. sournoun, from F. surnom. See {Sur-}, and {Noun}, {Name}.]
1. A name or appellation which is added to, or over and above, the baptismal or Christian name, and becomes a family name.
Note: Surnames originally designated occupation, estate, place of residence, or some particular thing or event that related to the person; thus, Edmund Ironsides; Robert Smith, or the smith; William Turner. Surnames are often also patronymics; as, John Johnson.
2. An appellation added to the original name; an agnomen. ''My surname, Coriolanus.'' --Shak.
Note: This word has been sometimes written sirname, as if it signified sire-name, or the name derived from one's father.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Surname \Sur*name"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Surnamed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Surnaming}.] [Cf. F. surnommer.] To name or call by an appellation added to the original name; to give a surname to.
Another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. --Isa. xliv. 5.
And Simon he surnamed Peter. --Mark iii. 16.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
surname
noun: the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name) [syn: {family name}, {cognomen}, {last name}]
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