1
as in family names
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 nicknames
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
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Recent Examples of surnames
Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
In sports, some siblings are so accomplished that they can be recognized by only their surnames.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
The endless vowels of their surnames—Ruuttu, Saarinen, Ruotsalainen—sail through his mind like a song.
—Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
At the time of the Mendez court decision, segregation was widespread in California’s public schools, with children who had Mexican surnames routinely placed on separate campuses that received fewer resources than those serving White students.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
At least three members of the panel have Hispanic surnames.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Though he had been given the surnames of both his parents—Ramírez and Sánchez—as was customary in Venezuela, his first name had been chosen by his father, a successful lawyer with strong left-wing views for whom Lenin was a hero.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
That history includes the surnames Hazeltine, Wilcox, Turner, Norton, Woodall, Willis, Bowman, Warner, Greenlaw and many more.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
From 1565 to 1898, the people of Las Islas Filipinas absorbed many of the Spaniards’ cultural traits, from their surnames and their attire to elements of their cuisine and language.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Dec. 2025
Noun
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
In sports, some siblings are so accomplished that they can be recognized by only their surnames.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
The endless vowels of their surnames—Ruuttu, Saarinen, Ruotsalainen—sail through his mind like a song.
—Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
At the time of the Mendez court decision, segregation was widespread in California’s public schools, with children who had Mexican surnames routinely placed on separate campuses that received fewer resources than those serving White students.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
At least three members of the panel have Hispanic surnames.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Though he had been given the surnames of both his parents—Ramírez and Sánchez—as was customary in Venezuela, his first name had been chosen by his father, a successful lawyer with strong left-wing views for whom Lenin was a hero.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
That history includes the surnames Hazeltine, Wilcox, Turner, Norton, Woodall, Willis, Bowman, Warner, Greenlaw and many more.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
From 1565 to 1898, the people of Las Islas Filipinas absorbed many of the Spaniards’ cultural traits, from their surnames and their attire to elements of their cuisine and language.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surnames
Noun
-
However, unlike similar programs, these folks have to stay true to their Southern roots and family names, a difficult feat in today’s modern world.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The inside jokes, the nicknames, the handshakes, singing the songs together.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The inside jokes, the nicknames, the handshakes, singing the songs together.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Let people follow problems across functions, not titles up a ladder.—
May Habib,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Both titles hail from directors with whom Hawke has maintained a strong relationship.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jewish producers trim down their last names to seem WASPy.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
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But none ever found any trace of her children, whose last names were changed during their closed adoption, according to Shabel Castro, one of her lawyers at the Innocence Project.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
On that day, the mob hurled racist epithets, smoke bombs, and fists at him.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The complaint also names City Manager Eric Carpenter, Commissioners David Suarez and Tanya Katzoff Bhatt, and unnamed police detectives as defendants.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
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Wells Fargo names Levi Strauss a top pick Wells says Levi's a is a new top idea at the bank.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As she’s stepped into the spotlight over the past six or so months, she’s decided to craft her own image with no intermediaries—which is a fancy way of saying that A’zion styles herself for her press appearances and red carpets.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
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Spencer Singer styles Chanel devotees Lily-Rose Depp (in a sleeveless vest embellished with pearls and rhinestones) and Gracie Abrams (wearing a beautiful black tweed dress).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Garamendi said the tools exist for Lara, who terms out of office next year, to ensure policyholders are paid in a timely manner.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
17 Dec. 2025
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Regrettably, no one terms the incident a Mass murder.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surnames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surnames. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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