Synonyms of surname

surname 1 of 2

noun

ˈsər-ˌnām 

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

• family name
• last name
• epithet
• maiden name
• married name
• sobriquet
• cognomen

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

• nickname
• epithet
• moniker
• pseudonym
• alias
• sobriquet
• cognomen
• byname
• title
• appellation
• label
• denomination
• designation
• handle
• tag
• pen name
• denotation
• nom de plume
• nom de guerre
• anonym

surname

2 of 2

verb

as in to title

Related Words

• title
• name
• style
• nickname
• term
• nominate
• designate
• label
• baptize
• entitle
• dub
• christen
• denominate
• specify
• denote
• code-name
• clepe
• brand
• call
• stigmatize
• rename
• tag
• relabel
• miscall
• rechristen
• misname
• mistitle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of surname

Noun

While there was plenty of excitement around the young prospect, whose surname was already synonymous with championships in another sport thanks to her father, soccer took a backseat to off-field issues months ahead of the postseason. —Emily Olsen, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2026

His modeling and social media career derives much of its power from his notable surname. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

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

An employee surnamed Lin who answered the phone at Gold Apollo but declined to provide her full name or title said the company did not directly fill the pager order from Hezbollah, and that BAC handles the vast majority of device sales from Middle Eastern customers. —Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024