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 But the president backed off after appeals from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech executives, including Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO whose family name is attached to the Oakland children’s hospital. Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026 According to the Associated Press, Abatti comes from a multigenerational farming family in California’s Imperial Valley, where the family name has long been associated with agricultural businesses and community leadership. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025 In a new interview with mom Kris Jenner, Kardashian revealed the five sisters (and their sole brother Rob) all chip in for the party, in part because it's become so associated with the family name. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025 But life-long Lubbockites will remember the family name from its first business, a burrito shop, which launched in 1992 and fed Texas Tech Red Raiders until 2003. Mary Lebus, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for family name
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family name
Noun
  • Accordingly, Cochemea — who did not use his surname on his three most recent solo albums — was soon a key member of The Dap-Kings, the Brooklyn band that rose to prominence playing with Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Maddox Jolie-Pitt (now known as simply Maddox Jolie) has officially become the third child of ex-couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to drop the F1 actor's surname.
    Emma Banks, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Leger Fernández pointed to a strict voter identification bill, known as the SAVE America Act, that Democrats have warned would disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters, including women who have changed their last names after getting married.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Priscilla, whose last name CNN is withholding for safety reasons, arrived in the city of Tepic on Saturday.
    Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 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 28 Feb. 2026.

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