family name

American  

noun

1. the hereditary surname of a family.

2. a given name frequently used in a family.

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family name British  

noun

1. a surname, esp when regarded as representing the family honour

2. a first or middle name frequently used in a family, often originally a surname

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Etymology

Origin of family name

First recorded in 1690–1700

Compare meaning

How does family-name compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• given name vs. family name

Example Sentences

Mr. Tuck traces the family names of people who lived in Pompeii and Herculaneum to these and other nearby towns where they had not existed before A.D.

From The Wall Street Journal

They have family names and their own personal ambitions at stake.

From BBC

But there were clues: A tattoo with a family name.

From Los Angeles Times

And presenting Black characters whose family names predate the Declaration of Independence is practically unheard of.

From Salon

Our last names got lost, and people just thought of the band names as our family names, like the Ramones!

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• last name