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
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Recent Examples of family name
The other is owned by Hideki Araki, whose family name was once Park.
—
New York Times, 13 Dec. 2025
During a recent chat with Vogue Scandinavia, the Naked Gun star opened up about her growing desire to embrace her Finnish history by taking on her family name.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
Askin was born into the Durst clan — the grandson of founder Joseph Durst — and sold commercial real estate for years in the family name.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 Nov. 2025
His mother’s family owned a bank, which collapsed, and thousands of people lost their money, with the family name tarnished in Argentina and beyond.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for family name
New York Times, 13 Dec. 2025
During a recent chat with Vogue Scandinavia, the Naked Gun star opened up about her growing desire to embrace her Finnish history by taking on her family name.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
Askin was born into the Durst clan — the grandson of founder Joseph Durst — and sold commercial real estate for years in the family name.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 Nov. 2025
His mother’s family owned a bank, which collapsed, and thousands of people lost their money, with the family name tarnished in Argentina and beyond.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for family name
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family name
Noun
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Though he had been given the surnames of both his parents—Ramírez and Sánchez—as was customary in Venezuela, his first name had been chosen by his father, a successful lawyer with strong left-wing views for whom Lenin was a hero.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
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Some are named after former West Ham players, such as Noel Cantwell and Jimmy Ruffell — though the latter’s surname is misspelt as Ruffle.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to her petition, Good wanted to change her last name from Renee Nicole Macklin to Renee Nicole Macklin Good.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
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Here’s a rundown of those players, listed in alphabetical order by last name.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Family name.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family%20name. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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