'surname' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'surnom', where 'sur-' meant 'over, above' and 'nom' meant 'name'.

'surname' changed from Old French 'surnom' into Middle English forms such as 'surename' and later became the modern English word 'surname'.

Initially it meant 'an additional or over-name (an epithet or name added to identify someone)', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'family name' or 'last name'.