diff --git a/src/gen/lib/surnamebase.py b/src/gen/lib/surnamebase.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a4786cb87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gen/lib/surnamebase.py
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+#
+# Gramps - a GTK+/GNOME based genealogy program
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2010  Benny Malengier
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+#
+
+# $Id: addressbase.py 15645 2010-07-22 02:16:32Z dsblank $
+
+"""
+SurnameBase class for GRAMPS.
+"""
+
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# GRAMPS modules
+#
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+from gen.lib.surname import Surname
+from gen.lib.const import IDENTICAL, EQUAL
+
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# SurnameBase classes
+#
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+class SurnameBase(object):
+    """
+    Base class for surname-aware objects.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, source=None):
+        """
+        Initialize a SurnameBase. 
+        
+        If the source is not None, then object is initialized from values of 
+        the source object.
+
+        :param source: Object used to initialize the new object
+        :type source: SurnameBase
+        """
+        self.surname_list = map(Surname, source.surname_list) if source else []
+
+    def serialize(self):
+        """
+        Convert the object to a serialized tuple of data.
+        """
+        return [surname.serialize() for surname in self.surname_list]
+
+    def unserialize(self, data):
+        """
+        Convert a serialized tuple of data to an object.
+        """
+        self.surname_list = [Surname().unserialize(item) for item in data]
+
+    def add_surname(self, surname):
+        """
+        Add the :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname` instance to the object's 
+        list of surnames.
+
+        :param surname: :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname` instance to add to 
+        the object's address list.
+        :type address: list
+        """
+        self.surname_list.append(surname)
+
+    def remove_surname(self, surname):
+        """
+        Remove the specified :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname` instance from 
+        the surname list.
+        
+        If the instance does not exist in the list, the operation has
+        no effect.
+
+        :param surname: :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname` instance to remove 
+            from the list
+        :type surname: :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname`
+
+        :returns: True if the surname was removed, False if it was not in the list.
+        :rtype: bool
+        """
+        if surname in self.surname_list:
+            self.surname_list.remove(surname)
+            return True
+        else:
+            return False
+
+    def get_surname_list(self):
+        """
+        Return the list of :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname` instances a
+        ssociated with the object.
+
+        :returns: Returns the list of :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname` instances
+        :rtype: list
+        """
+        return self.surname_list
+
+    def set_surname_list(self, surname_list):
+        """
+        Assign the passed list to the object's list of 
+        :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname` instances.
+        
+        :param surname_list: List of :class:`~gen.lib.surname.surname` instances
+            to be associated with the object
+        :type surname_list: list
+        """
+        self.surname_list = surname_list
+
+    def primary_surname(self):
+        """
+        Return the surname that is the primary surname
+        
+        :returns: Returns the surname instance that 
+            is the primary surname. If primary not set, and there is a surname,
+            the first surname is given, if no surnames, None is returned
+        :rtype: :class:`~gen.lib.surname.Surname` or None
+        """
+        for surname in surname_list:
+            if surname.primary:
+                return surname
+        if surname_list:
+            return surname_list[0]
+        return None
+
+    def _merge_surname_list(self, acquisition):
+        """
+        Merge the list of surname from acquisition with our own.
+
+        :param acquisition: the surname list of this object will be merged with
+            the current address list.
+        :rtype acquisition: SurnameBase
+        """
+        surname_list = self.surname_list[:]
+        for addendum in acquisition.get_surname_list():
+            for surname in surname_list:
+                equi = surname.is_equivalent(addendum)
+                if equi == IDENTICAL:
+                    break
+                elif equi == EQUAL:
+                    surname.merge(addendum)
+                    break
+            else:
+                self.surname_list.append(addendum)