as in surnames
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
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Recent Examples of family names
However, unlike similar programs, these folks have to stay true to their Southern roots and family names, a difficult feat in today’s modern world.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
Everyone on both sides of my family has always used family names, which has been really important to me to continue only using family names with my children.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
Everyone on both sides of my family has always used family names, which has been really important to me to continue only using family names with my children.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family names
Noun
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Hispanic surnames Huff accused Zamora of mounting a primary challenge against her — rather than seeking an open seat or one held by a Latino judge — because of Huff’s race.—
Molly Smith,
San Antonio Express-News,
20 Mar. 2026
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For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Critics say millions of people, including married women who have changed their last names, could be excluded from voting and that voter fraud is exceedingly rare in the United States.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
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The president has called for doing away with voting by mail and wants to require every American voter to reregister with proof-of-citizenship documents that, according to election law experts, could disenfranchise married women who changed their last names, students and people of color.—
Sophia Bollag,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Family names.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family%20names. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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