surname

[sur-neym, sur-neym, sur-neym]

noun

1. Also called last name. the name that a person has in common with other family members, as distinguished from a first name or given name; family name.

2. a name added to a person's name, as one indicating a circumstance of birth or some characteristic or achievement; epithet.

verb (used with object)

surnamed, surnaming 

1. to give a surname to; call by a surname.

surname

/ ˈsɜːˌneɪm /

noun

1. Also called: last name.  second name. a family name as opposed to a first or Christian name

2. (formerly) a descriptive epithet attached to a person's name to denote a personal characteristic, profession, etc; nickname

verb

1. (tr) to furnish with or call by a surname

Other Word Forms

• unsurnamed adjective
• surnamer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of surname¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (noun); sur- ¹, name; modeled on Old French surnom

Word History and Origins

Origin of surname¹

C14: via Anglo-French from Old French surnom. See _sur- ¹ , _name

Example Sentences

He changed his social media profiles following the contact to remove his surname to make him harder to find, the court heard.

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All 55 children got the surname Sovann, or Golden, another sign of Johnson’s fantastical dreams for their future.

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Andie, who did not want to give her surname, drinks them without sweetener, and describes it as a "decent" product.

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"I am sure he will play again. He has a prestigious surname, which is difficult to live up to."

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Singh is a common surname in the Sikh community, and none of the people mentioned in this story are related.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• last name