to-name

See also: toname

English

Alternative forms

• tee-name, toname, tuename (erroneous), towname (erroneous)

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.

Synonyms

• byname

Anagrams

• Eatmon, Manteo, mean to, nemato-, omenta