ancestral name

noun

A surname, particularly used in contexts where other surnames (such as patronymics or clan names) need to be distinguished

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Meanings

nounancestral name (plural ancestral names)

plural ancestral names

  1. A surname, particularly used in contexts where other surnames (such as patronymics or clan names) need to be distinguished
  2. The xing surname in its ancient use where it was distinguished from the shi clan name, as opposed to its modern use as a simple surname

Origin

From English ancestral + name.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ancestral name. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ancestral%20name

MLA

“ancestral name.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ancestral%20name. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ancestral name,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ancestral%20name.

Source: ancestral name on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.