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
Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
In the last year of his life, Schorr added his mother’s maiden name Heller to his official surname, in a move linked to the making of his final film.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 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
According to People magazine, Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, use Sussex as their surname, a tradition within the royal family.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
In the last year of his life, Schorr added his mother’s maiden name Heller to his official surname, in a move linked to the making of his final film.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 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
-
Ethel lamented her family name in her 1955 autobiography, Memories.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
-
There are a few family names recorded in the archive alongside those of the Lynches: Bowman, Brown, Floyd, Hall, Williams.—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
For some, the preferred nickname might be City of the Big Shoulders and Hog Butcher for the World, courtesy of poet Carl Sandburg.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
-
During a March 2023 appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, McEntire shared that her fondness for tots earned her a new nickname — and kicked off her relationship with the CSI: Miami alum.—
Sabienna Bowman,
People.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Spin Master Corp is titling their Paw Patrol threequel — PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie. Also revealed today is the synopsis of the doggie cartoon movie: After their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The wardrobe is a nod to what could well be Mulvaney’s most ambitious and personal project, a book titled Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer, on sale March 11.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
After hearing the homeowner's last name, the neighbor asked if he was related to a man named Vinny with the same last name.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
-
It's also cited as the reason their son carries her last name.—
Sean O'Driscoll,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Some took that remark as an innocent allusion to her job promoting fresh produce; others saw it as a longtime epithet for gay men.—
Anita Gates,
Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2025
-
There have been racial epithets included in some of those.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
In his 13 seasons, David has been named first-team All-Pro in 2013, second-team All-Pro in the 2016 and 2020 seasons and a Pro Bowler in 2015.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The stylus is named Focus Pen that works like the last few Xiaomi styli, with a dedicated clicky button positioned where the index finger usually sits.—
Ben Sin,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Brown styled her golden locks in a bun with bangs for the Los Angeles premiere of her new Netflix film The Electric State on Feb. 24 alongside her husband Jake Bongiovi.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Fashion savant Lupita Nyong’o arrived in a decadent creation by Chanel styled by Micaela Erlanger.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Stein later termed it the happiest day of his life.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Anti-fans, as pop-culture scholars have termed them, are similar to hate-watchers: consumers who become fixated on what frustrates them.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to surname
Cite this Entry
“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surname. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share