Linda Crannell wrote:
>
> Can someone tell me the nature of the position referred to as SURROGATE? It appears in the civil (office) lists in many of the county
histories written toward the end of the 1800s. Thanks, Linda

Depends on the context - There's a Surrogate Court in NY (and my
Webster's says "and in some other states") that acts in supervising the
probating of wills, dispersal of estates, guardianships, etc.

Also, I've heard that if a bride or groom couldn't be present at a
wedding, a surrogate could take her/his place; this may have required
written permission, etc., as I could see it being much-abused...

Since the 1980's, it can also be the woman who carries a baby (gets
naturally or artificially pregnant) for a woman who can't conceive, etc.
on her own.  The "artifical" part is either her normally-ovulated egg and
the donor's sperm, or the other mother's in vitro-fertilized egg.

Bonnie Glickman, Rochester NY (Biologist - in case you could guess from
my message... ;)  )