family names

plural of family name
as in surnames
a name shared by members of a family searched for their family name on a popular genealogy website

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for family names
Noun
  • Names can have a maximum of two first names and four surnames.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The trust also listed multiple women with Eastern European surnames as beneficiaries.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In July, another inmate at the same jail was mistakenly released due to what officials say was a clerical error stemming from two similar last names.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Names like Andrea, Cheryl, Clara, Demetrius, Diane, Laverne, Lisa, Maria, Yvonne, The Funkateers, Fast Freddy, Renita and Keith, Pernell and Debra, and many more — no last names needed.
    Scott Talley, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Family names.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family%20names. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!