下げ姓しょう

noun

person of humble birth

Historical term referring to someone of low social status or common birth, used in pre-modern contexts. Not used in modern everyday Japanese.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、下げ姓しょうの者ものには苗みょう字じ帯たい刀とうが許ゆるされなかった。

  In the Edo period, people of humble birth were not allowed to have a surname and wear a sword.