family name

noun

: surname sense 2

Synonyms of family name

• surname
• last name

Examples of family name in a Sentence

Her family name is Smith.

searched for their family name on a popular genealogy website

Recent Examples on the Web

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

There’s no rule banning an heir from naming their child after a color or city, but using oft-traditional family names lends historical weight to a future ruler from the day they’re born. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026

Her father, Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston, changed the family name to Hepburn-Ruston before marrying van Heemstra in Batavia in 1926. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026

Ripp admits that part of the goal here is to restore credit for Mazur and perhaps even to his own family name. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for family name

• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim
• doorframe
• exclaim
• inflame
• mainframe

Kids Definition

family name

noun

: surname sense 2