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
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
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family names
Noun
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In sports, some siblings are so accomplished that they can be recognized by only their surnames.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
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The endless vowels of their surnames—Ruuttu, Saarinen, Ruotsalainen—sail through his mind like a song.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Sally of Evanston and Lori of Chicago, who did not want their last names used, dined on crepes as the family related their story.—
George Castle,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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Most married men – 92% – keep their last names.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Family names.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family%20names. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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