Marvel Comics original antihero Namor the Sub-Mariner may be the royal prince of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis but the occasional superhero has an interesting surname that harkens back to his early surface world origins. Namor's real surname isn't used often, but it's an important part of the character's history.
Born to the Atlantean Princess Fen and human sea captain Leonard McKenzie, Namor's surname of McKenzie is derived from the same mortal father. McKenzie, captain of the vessel the Oracle, was embarking on a scientific expedition when the young commander and his crew would happen upon the blue-skinned Fen in their lower decks. Comforting the strange stowaway, McKenzie and Princess Fen would eventually fall in love before giving birth to Namor. As strange as the name may be for an underwater ruler, Namor's McKenzie title represents the last bit of connective tissue that the Atlantean shares with the surface world of humanity. Though Namor has attacked the superhero fulcrum of New York City on several occasions utilizing giant whales and tidal waves, the Atlantean is still very much a human.
Though established as being the son of Leonard McKenzie in 1939's unreleased debut issue of writer Bill Everett (Daredevil, Zombie)'s Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #3, released officially in Marvel Comics #1, Namor has become intricately tied with the moniker of Sub-Mariner. Even Namor's first Silver Age appearance in 1962's Fantastic Four #4 reintroduced the former character to a new generation as simply, Namor the Sub-Mariner. Suffering from a state of amnesia, Namor is gradually able to recount many past memories pertaining to his lost kingdom and family, though the McKenzie moniker and background would not be acknowledged within the issue. However, Namor's human McKenzie heritage would begin to stir problems from within Atlantis itself, such as his pining for Fantastic Four member Sue Storm a.k.a. The Invisible Woman, which led to a confrontation with his own military's warlord Krang.
Though the DNA of a human is stored in his bloodstream, Namor's various abilities far exceed that of an average Earthling; obtaining superhuman strength, agility, speed, stamina, accelerated healing, flight, enhanced senses, and reduced aging.
Marvel's "first" mutant of many, has proven to be on equal footing with the likes of superhero heavyweights, from The Incredible Hulk to Hercules. However, Namor the Sub-Mariner's distinct ability to exist on land indefinitely and endure the depths of the sea even finer is owed to his lineage with his father. Sharing the last name of Leonard McKenzie has not slowed the Prince of Atlantis' down in any way.