as in surnames
a name shared by members of a family
please write your first name, middle initial, and last name at the top of the form
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Recent Examples of last names
Many Isleños changed their original Spanish surnames to French last names once Louisiana came under French control, De la Nuez explained, which led to some descendants likely losing touch with their roots.
—
Raul A. Reyes, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
Their last names were not used.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Byler is their last names fused together.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
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
The three accused, who police only identified by first names and initials of their last names, were charged with membership in a foreign terrorist organization and preparing an act of violence endangering the state.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
There are few people in human history whose last names alone are sufficient to conjure up kindness, goodness, wisdom, grace—Mandela, Gandhi, King, Lincoln.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
This was so touching, that the kids in the group homes would take each other’s last names to replicate being a family.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Raul A. Reyes, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
Their last names were not used.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Byler is their last names fused together.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
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
The three accused, who police only identified by first names and initials of their last names, were charged with membership in a foreign terrorist organization and preparing an act of violence endangering the state.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
There are few people in human history whose last names alone are sufficient to conjure up kindness, goodness, wisdom, grace—Mandela, Gandhi, King, Lincoln.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
This was so touching, that the kids in the group homes would take each other’s last names to replicate being a family.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last names
Noun
-
Many Isleños changed their original Spanish surnames to French last names once Louisiana came under French control, De la Nuez explained, which led to some descendants likely losing touch with their roots.—
Raul A. Reyes,
NBC news,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Beatrice and Eugenie's children do not have royal titles and use their fathers' surnames, reflecting their parents' wishes to raise them largely outside formal royal life.—
Ashley Hume , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Last names.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/last%20names. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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