1
as in family name
a name shared by members of a family
judging from your surname, I'd guess that your family is Italian
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
"da Vinci" was Leonardo's surname but not his family name, Vinci being the town near Florence where the great artist was born
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of surname
Sushmita Pathak, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Mar. 2025
Sherry was identified on 23andMe as a great aunt to a young woman with the surname Greenglass, which prompted my mom to check her own ancestry profile online.
—Pamela Chelin, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025
Chris Lau, CNN, 9 May 2023
The Chengdu police used social media on Wednesday to report that a 39-year-old man surnamed Chen was arrested on suspicion of opening a casino.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for surname
Noun
People with Dalit surnames say they have been denied housing, socially ostracized, and even the victims of communal violence.
—Sushmita Pathak, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Mar. 2025
Sherry was identified on 23andMe as a great aunt to a young woman with the surname Greenglass, which prompted my mom to check her own ancestry profile online.
—Pamela Chelin, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
Gansu authorities said the suspect, surnamed Hong, was questioned in the city of Dongguan in southern Guangdong province on May 5.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 9 May 2023
The Chengdu police used social media on Wednesday to report that a 39-year-old man surnamed Chen was arrested on suspicion of opening a casino.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for surname
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surname
Noun
-
During a panel at 90s Con in Hartford on Friday, the brothers Lawrence — whose real last name is Mignogna — reflected on sacrificing their family name to get ahead in Hollywood.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The cousins become unwittingly involved in a local election, with opposing factions trying to use their family name for leverage.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Yet his ruthlessness is appreciated by his team-mates, who have given him the nickname El Tiburon (‘The Shark’).—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
-
The countdown is on with Alex Ovechkin just 4 goals from overtaking Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's career goal leader – a mark that once seemed unsurmountable and earned Gretzky the nickname The Great One.—
Jim Sergent,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Both will appear on the band’s forthcoming fourth LP, which has yet to be titled.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The pop star’s Eternal Sunshine rebounds from No. 79 to No. 1 following the release of a new deluxe version titled Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Patrick Schwarzenegger has not been shy about his desire to somewhat distance himself from his famous last name since landing a role on The White Lotus season 3.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
-
During a panel at 90s Con in Hartford on Friday, the brothers Lawrence — whose real last name is Mignogna — reflected on sacrificing their family name to get ahead in Hollywood.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The test question for which Taylor was placed on leave included a quote from the text which had a racial epithet.—
Campbell Roper,
Arkansas Online,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Lincoln Heights resident Eric Ruffin said at Tuesday night's village meeting that one of the demonstrators called him a racial epithet.—
Antonia Hylton,
NBC News,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
It wasn’t named in the companion antitrust cases of Hubbard or Carter, either.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons were named as plaintiffs.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Crafted from supple suede, this low-top sneaker combines elements of skate, sport, and nostalgia, offering a striking yet streamlined silhouette that can be styled with almost anything.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The lightweight, breathable fabric is great for remaining temperate during warm travel days and sightseeing excursions, while the flattering fit can be styled in countless different ways: wear it with jeans, a mini skort, linen pants, or really anything else in your suitcase.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Masters Betting Promos: First-Bet Offers For those who wish to tackle the tournament with a first-bet offer that pays back losing first wagers in bonus bets -- often termed no-sweat bets, safety nets and other similar names -- the following offers are worth checking out.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Another aspect to consider in discussions was what Wann termed ‘parachute payments’.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surname. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share