Crossword Genius

Farmer, say, succeeded spreading manure (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

surname

'farmer say' is the definition.
(Farmer is a surname)

'succeeded spreading manure' is the wordplay.
'succeeded' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation).
'spreading' indicates an anagram.
'manure' with letters rearranged gives 'urname'.
's'+'urname'='SURNAME'

(Other definitions for surname that I've seen before include "Hereditary identifier" , "Word by which a family is known" , "Family name" , "Family appellation" , "Last appellation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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