1
: an added name derived from occupation or other circumstance : nickname sense 1
2
: the name borne in common by members of a family
Synonyms
Examples of surname in a Sentence
Noun
judging from your surname, I'd guess that your family is Italian
“da Vinci” was Leonardo's surname but not his family name, Vinci being the town near Florence where the great artist was born
Recent Examples on the Web
Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
The Hermès family – which includes the surnames Dumas, Guerrand, and Puech – is the third-wealthiest in France.
—Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 5 Sep. 2024
Eunice Yoon,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2024
The zoo’s manager, surnamed Huang, said the dogs are one of its top attractions.
—Alex Stambaugh, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surname 
Noun
That has caused most women to adopt their husband’s surname.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
The Hermès family – which includes the surnames Dumas, Guerrand, and Puech – is the third-wealthiest in France.
—Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 5 Sep. 2024
Verb
The individual, surnamed Yang, declined to share his first name due to concerns about speaking with foreign media.
—Eunice Yoon,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2024
The zoo’s manager, surnamed Huang, said the dogs are one of its top attractions.
—Alex Stambaugh, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surname
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'surname.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surname. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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