family name
Americannoun
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the hereditary surname of a family.
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a given name frequently used in a family.
noun
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a surname, esp when regarded as representing the family honour
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a first or middle name frequently used in a family, often originally a surname
Etymology
Origin of family name
First recorded in 1690–1700
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
From the halls of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts to the luxury suites of Loews Hotels, the family name is etched into the city.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
About 111 million of the voting A shares are mostly in the family name.
From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026
But there were clues: A tattoo with a family name.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2025
Both have responded to jabs from outside groups, with Grijalva being accused of running on her family name.
From Salon • Jul. 13, 2025
“Ah well, Hare’s the family name, don't y’know. My parents named me Basil, though the old mater wanted me to be called Columbine Agnes. Always longed for a young lass, she did.”
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
