minor feudal lord
Historical term for a low-ranking feudal lord in medieval Japan, below a 大名 (daimyō).
See also: 大名
戦国時代には、多くの小名が大名に従属していた。
During the Warring States period, many minor feudal lords were subordinate to daimyō.
大名 (literally 'big name') denotes a lord with extensive landholdings, while 小名 (literally 'small name') denotes a lesser lord with a much smaller domain.
Compound of 小 (small, minor) and 名 (name, here referring to a titled landholder). The reading しょうみょう is the on'yomi of the kanji.