1
as in family name
a name shared by members of a family
judging from your surname, I'd guess that your family is Italian
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
"da Vinci" was Leonardo's surname but not his family name, Vinci being the town near Florence where the great artist was born
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of surname
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
Their surname was also there for everyone to see as the couple enjoyed memorable moments on the dance floor.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025
Chris Lau, CNN, 9 May 2023
The Chengdu police used social media on Wednesday to report that a 39-year-old man surnamed Chen was arrested on suspicion of opening a casino.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for surname
Noun
Tyler Herro, befitting his surname, scored 38 points in a performance that underlined his elevation this season to all-star caliber.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
Their surname was also there for everyone to see as the couple enjoyed memorable moments on the dance floor.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
Gansu authorities said the suspect, surnamed Hong, was questioned in the city of Dongguan in southern Guangdong province on May 5.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 9 May 2023
The Chengdu police used social media on Wednesday to report that a 39-year-old man surnamed Chen was arrested on suspicion of opening a casino.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for surname
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surname
Noun
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Also in the family name is Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Drag Race’s sequined Satan with a smile.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Whether creating magic together (à la the Coen brothers and Billie Eilish with Finneas O'Connell) or going solo in separate races, these twosomes brought prestige to the family name.—
Lydia Price,
People.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The rocky bluffs make the waters particularly treacherous, earning the tip of Door County a wild nickname: Death’s Door.—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
AFAR Media,
21 May 2025
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But few nicknames reach the height of the headless chicken monster.—
Amanda Kooser,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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In addition to acting in notable projects like The Conjuring and Mystic Pizza, the actress also published a book of essays in 2025 titled Turning to Birds.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
22 May 2025
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She's set to release her ninth studio album, titled Something Beautiful, alongside a film, on May 30.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
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How Barragan opened up a spot bearing his last name in 1961 at a former coffee shop that seated only 24.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
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In contrast, satellite news channels were broadcasting wall-to-wall coverage of President Trump’s visit to the Middle East, said Majid, who asked that his last name not be published for fear of retribution.—
Farnaz Fassihi,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
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The men pulled Khan and his relatives from the truck and began beating them and shouting anti-Muslim epithets.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
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Police said an investigation revealed the man had been sitting in the plaza when the woman approached him and without provocation spat on him while yelling a racial epithet directed at Black people.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Pet cat escapes vet's office, arrives home 3 miles away days later A cat named George, who was at the vet for neutering in Florida, broke out of the animal hospital and made his way miles home days later.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2025
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Another dog named Chrissy is buried next to the pre-dug grave, but Jody's headstone hadn’t come in yet.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
18 May 2025
Verb
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The top and pants can be separately styled with just about anything in your travel capsule wardrobe.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2025
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Each is available in a range of sizes to suit your space—and Gaines reminds you to not shy away from styling them with colorful pieces.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 May 2025
Verb
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These sometimes contain more specific accusations, such as the Department of Energy letter, which specifically terms Harvard's efforts to address past problems as insufficient.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
14 May 2025
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The company is additionally developing an advanced iteration termed 18A-PT, which facilitates 3D stacking with hybrid bonding interconnects, allowing for vertical die stacking directly on top of its most advanced node.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surname. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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