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
Mike Schneider, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The best iterations of this event over the past half-century have culminated in victories by global superstars whose surnames are unnecessary.
—Jason Sobel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
For some families, maiden names or other significant surnames are carried on as first names.
—Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 1 Apr. 2026
Hispanic surnames Huff accused Zamora of mounting a primary challenge against her — rather than seeking an open seat or one held by a Latino judge — because of Huff’s race.
—Molly Smith, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
The top five American surnames — Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones — remained unchanged from 2010 to 2020, but Asian surnames surged to become the fastest-growing in the decade.
—Mike Schneider, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The best iterations of this event over the past half-century have culminated in victories by global superstars whose surnames are unnecessary.
—Jason Sobel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
For some families, maiden names or other significant surnames are carried on as first names.
—Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 1 Apr. 2026
Hispanic surnames Huff accused Zamora of mounting a primary challenge against her — rather than seeking an open seat or one held by a Latino judge — because of Huff’s race.
—Molly Smith, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Mar. 2026
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
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 French newspaper has given him various nicknames during the past four decades, tracing the arc of his public reputation.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
One of them, named James Rogers, used the same phrases and nicknames Ryan had used in the past and knew information about her and her whereabouts at the time.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sinner, the 2024 Miami Open champion, became the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the Sunshine Double — winning Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back — and the first in history to win the double without losing a set.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Let people follow problems across functions, not titles up a ladder.—
May Habib,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the winemakers in Alsace have a combination of French and German first and last names because the vines on the other side of the Rhine River are planted in German soil.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Before the couple, who are both 28 and prefer to keep their last names private, walked down the aisle, Alexa had a wedding dress reveal with her eight bridesmaids.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 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
-
The civil complaint also names the article’s author, Sarah Fitzpatrick, as a defendant.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The suit names Baker and the city of Chicago as defendants.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trever parts his hair to the right while his brother styles his combover to the left.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
-
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
-
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 24 Apr. 2026.
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