surname 1 of 2

noun

ˈsər-ˌnām How to pronounce surname (audio)
Definition of surnamenext
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

surname

2 of 2

verb

as in to title

Related 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
Noun
Shiloh, now 20, filed to change her surname on May 27 of that year, which was also the then-teen’s 18th birthday. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026 In 2019, his great-nephews Albert and Lawrence Lewitinn (their surnames are spelled differently than the artist’s) inherited about 1,000 of the artist’s works. — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
Another survivor, surnamed Zhu, said they were initially persuaded to carry luxury watches over the border to make some cash. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 4 Jan. 2026 One user, surnamed Zhao, told CNN that the two apps enabled friends to meet especially in the less cosmopolitan parts of the country where places for gay people to gather are almost non-existent. — Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surname
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surname
  1. family name
  2. nickname
  3. title
  4. last name
  5. epithet
  6. name
  7. style
  8. term
Noun
  • Prosecutors are seeking the maximum five-year sentences for four of the nine defendants, including Chang, an Nvidia manager identified just by his family name.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • As is the Pickwick Theater, built by his grandfather, and the William Malone Fountain by Rita’s on the Northwest Highway keeps the family name in town.
    — Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of family name
Noun
  • His daughter Angela West said farming had been part of her father’s life long before Kansas City knew his nickname.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Hig nicknames her The Beast, which seems more of an inner monologue moniker.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of nickname
Verb
  • After writing the After series in 2014, a five-book young-adult romance, including a prequel appropriately titled Before, Todd‘s books went on to become feature films starring Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The canvas, titled Young Artists after Siamesas 1960, was commissioned in 2013 by the program under the Obama administration.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of title
Noun
  • Renée and Becca Good started their relationship that year, and, according to public records, Renée took Becca’s last name in the fall.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The acquaintance shared the same last name as the incumbent and received 6,000 votes despite not campaigning.
    — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of last name
Noun
  • The raid drew criticism over separating families, and a group of Idahoans sued, saying officers hurled racial epithets and largely withheld water, food, bathrooms and medical care.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Hochman detailed a number of prosecutions, including the sentence of one man to a life sentence plus seven years with the possibility of parole for a March 23 attack, during which racial epithets were uttered.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of epithet
Verb
  • The hero of this historic draw was undeniably Vozinha, who made seven crucial saves throughout the match and was named Player of the Match.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Sun conjoins Mercury in Virgo and your 4th House of Home, Family, and Emotional Roots, helping private needs become easier to name.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of name
Verb
  • Pair this outfit with a pair of Mary Jane-style sneakers that are comfy and easy to style with leggings.
    — Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Wear it with sandals or sneakers, and a sun hat for a relaxed end-of-summer look, or style it with boots and a denim jacket for a fall dinner.
    — Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of style
Verb
  • Carrington in particular models what some have termed an ecofeminist approach, one that does not appropriate animals for the artist’s own self-revelation but instead develops kinship across species.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This is the second time this summer that Newsom, who is termed out of office, has traveled to other states.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of term

Browse Nearby Words

surmounts
surname
surnamed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surname. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on surname

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about surname

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All