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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
The Epstein scandal threatens to deepen a divide among the descendants at a time when the two remaining banks bearing the family name are increasingly in competition.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
So for me to be able to get it was a good feeling for everyone in that journey - that my family name can have that senior cap to it.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
"We're happy Trump is coming," said Michael, a Swiss real estate executive who declined to give his family name, adding that he has made the trek to Davos for the past 25 years.
From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026
Both have responded to jabs from outside groups, with Grijalva being accused of running on her family name.
From Salon • Jul. 13, 2025
Years ago, his mother had told him that their family name, Zhang, meant “master of bows” in Chinese.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
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.
