family name

Definition of family namenext
as in surname
a name shared by members of a family searched for their family name on a popular genealogy website

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 family name The Atlanta native is excited to carry his dreams and the family name forward. — Pj Green august 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 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, 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 The largest gift, of $13 million, came from philanthropist Jane Bradley Pettit, who stipulated that the museum should always be called the Milwaukee Art Museum, without some corporation or family name in the title. — jsonline.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for family name
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family name
Noun
  • Like other Tigrayans quoted in this story, he is being referred to only by his surname for fear of retaliation by armed groups.
    — Siyanne Mekonnen, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Even his surname sounded like a nickname dreamed up by Seth Rogen or Judd Apatow.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Joëlle, who declined to give her last name because of her work for City Hall, agrees with critics of Macron who say the center-right president has favored the rich.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Cue the whole nepo-baby brouhaha, the never-ending conversation about the professional advantages that come with a famous last name.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Family name.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family%20name. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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