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
Relevance
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
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 surnames
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Many descendants of the original settlers — with surnames like Crockett, Parks and Thomas — have remained to this day.
—Julie Depenbrock, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
There are new sets of rules on uniforms, including name plates bearing soldiers' surnames on Army Green Service Uniforms.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Many younger Red Sox weren’t in the majors, or even drafted in ‘19, the last time the league allowed players to replace their surnames with nicknames on the back of their Players’ Weekend jerseys.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
He is seen as a younger, more moderate voice – having vowed to clean up politics, initiate discussions on constitutional reform and allow married couples to use separate surnames, something currently banned under law.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Many descendants of the original settlers — with surnames like Crockett, Parks and Thomas — have remained to this day.
—Julie Depenbrock, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
There are new sets of rules on uniforms, including name plates bearing soldiers' surnames on Army Green Service Uniforms.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Many younger Red Sox weren’t in the majors, or even drafted in ‘19, the last time the league allowed players to replace their surnames with nicknames on the back of their Players’ Weekend jerseys.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surnames
Noun
-
That information from customers was leaked in a full database, including customer’s names, mobile numbers, email addresses, license plate numbers, vehicle nicknames, and more.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
6 Oct. 2025
-
And though some nicknames can wear out their welcome with age, McCollough does not feel that way about his.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That was just in time for the first of three Super Bowl titles the Chiefs won between that year and 2023-24.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The Dragons didn’t play in 2024 after winning Manzanita League titles the previous two seasons.—
Rick Hoff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
Use chapter titles or epithets to set up what’s coming.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Then there was the woman who was Speaker of the House and would walk around talking to herself, screaming out epithets to imaginary people.—
Larry David,
New Yorker,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Thomas Tuchel names his next England squad on Friday as the countdown to next summer’s World Cup finals continues.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The suit names Family Dollar Stores of Missouri LLC; the parent company, Family Dollar Inc; and the property owner, Arthur Fels Company, as defendants.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Tube styles The single tube is a style that connects a tube to the diaphragm and splits into two before reaching the headset.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 Sep. 2025
-
For instance, Jean styles a head scarf impeccably well.—
Nneya Richards,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Brixius terms the results creolization, a hybridization of people and knowledge.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Peterson hosts a regular show on BBC Radio 6 Music, founded the influential Acid Jazz and Brownswood Recordings labels, and in recent years began the We Out Here festival in Dorset, England.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
24 Sep. 2025
-
And the startup not only attracts speculators directly on its website and mobile app, but also white labels its markets to brokers like Robinhood and Webull, adding liquidity and scale.—
Alicia Park,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surnames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surnames. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share