famous historic spot; place of historic interest
Refers to a location renowned for its historical significance, often a scenic or cultural landmark.
There are many famous historic spots in Kyoto.
family name; professional name
Used in traditional arts (kabuki, tea ceremony, etc.) for a hereditary stage name or family name passed down through generations. Often read みょうせき in this context, but めいせき is also used.
See also: 名跡 (みょうせき)
He succeeded to a kabuki stage name.
Standard kanji spelling for both senses. High news frequency.
Variant kanji for 'historic spot' sense; 蹟 is an older form of 跡.
From 名 (famous) + 跡/蹟 (trace, site). The 'family name' sense is an extended use, referring to the 'trace' of a lineage.