Dictionary

aftername en · NOUN

Etymology

From after- + name.

Meanings

1. A designation which comes after a name, similar to, yet not necessarily equivalent to one's last name
   • 'Oh, Lord kens that; we dinna mind folk's afternames muckle here, they run sae muckle into clans.' 1815, Walter Scott, Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer:
   • In England, in the Middle Ages, an individual sometimes used alternative afternames, that of his place of residence, his trade, or that of his master instead of that of his father. 1979, Raymond Pearl, Human Biology, page 73:
   • At this point in his narrative Snorri ties up his tale of Harald's aftername. 2009, Robert Ferguson, The Vikings:
   • Not only did the saints have all these afternames but the heroes and ancestors had twice as many of an identical pattern. And soon I observed that the first names were composed of the same elements as the afternames. 1972, Hubert Butler, Ten Thousand Saints, page 30:
   • 'Now is Dog the first name you have or the aftername?' 2006, Nigel Cox, Cowboy Dog, page 94:

Forms

Antonyms

forename