SURNAME, used in the sense of a name or title applied to a person thus denoting his distinct and individual character. In the OT, the Heb. כָּנָה, H4033, “give a name,” “honor with a title,” tr. only occasionally as “surname” in KJV and RSV the term is badly confused. All tr. with JPS (Isa 44:5; 45:4) as a “surname”; but in Job 32:21 only JPS reads correctly, “For I know not to give flattering titles.” In the NT, the Gr. term, ἐπικαλέω, G2126, occurs as a passive participle, ἐπικληθείς, and often connects a Jewish name with a Gr. or Rom. one (e.g. Acts 10:5), “Simon who is [surnamed] called Peter.” However, in almost all such cases in the NT, the additional name and the explanatory participle are not in the oldest known and more precise MSS. No doubt these were originally ancient glosses intended merely to identify the individual mentioned in the text by his more commonly known name. In the course of transmission of some of the MS families, these additional comments became conflated into the text itself. There are nine such occurrences in the Acts which was directed to the Gentile world and contains many such parenthetical explanations which encouraged the addition of even more. In all cases the identifications appear to be correct and are definitely helpful.