Surnames and sobriquets
252 LR Sharma I am not going to make a comparison between surnames and sobriquets. In fact, there cannot be any comparison, either. A surname is usually worn by the whole family or clan. It depicts the caste, sub-caste or the place of domicile of a person. It does not tell about the character, pursuits and the qualities of a person. A sobriquet or nickname is just the reverse. It is person-specific. While a surname is a legacy, the sobriquet is either bestowed or thrust upon. Very often, a sobriquet transforms into a surname, but the vice versa is not possible. We have occupational sobriquets...