surname
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.
a name added to a person's name, as one indicating a circumstance of birth or some characteristic or achievement; epithet.
to give a surname to; call by a surname.
Compare Meanings
Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.
Origin of surname
1Other words from surname
- un·sur·named, adjective
Words Nearby surname
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use surname in a sentence
“In the vaccine industry, we usually give a commission to the person in charge to encourage them to use our vaccines,” one Sinovac salesperson, identified only by the surname Yang, said in a 2017 case in the southern province of Guangdong.
As China nears a coronavirus vaccine, bribery cloud hangs over drugmaker Sinovac | Eva Dou | December 4, 2020 | Washington PostYin Hongzhang’s wife, identified in court testimony only by her surname, Guo, told the court that she and her husband picked up the cash in a hotel lobby and never volunteered to repay the loan.
As China nears a coronavirus vaccine, bribery cloud hangs over drugmaker Sinovac | Eva Dou | December 4, 2020 | Washington PostYin Hongzhang, who shares a surname with Sinovac’s CEO but is no relation, was sentenced in 2017 to a decade in prison for taking bribes from Sinovac and seven other companies.
As China nears a coronavirus vaccine, bribery cloud hangs over drugmaker Sinovac | Eva Dou | December 4, 2020 | Washington PostHe was 4 when his parents divorced, and two years later he adopted the surname Cordier from his stepfather.
Daniel Cordier, French Resistance hero, dies at 100 | Phil Davison | November 23, 2020 | Washington PostFrom the Revolution forward, as Cheney outlines, its votaries promoted the intellectual depth and known virtues of those with recognizable surnames and long family legacies.
Four presidents who put Virginia’s stamp on early America | Andrew Burstein | October 30, 2020 | Washington Post
Black wore a hat with his surname, the A formed by a depiction of the African continent.
Lemieux is a French-Canadian surname which means “The Best.”
Satisfied, but not content, Gold strives to live up to her surname, as well as stamp it on the long list of American greats.
Figure Skater Gracie Gold Is America’s Darling in Sochi | Kevin Fixler | February 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAmong those officials-turned-entrepreneurs is the British-based Mehdi Shamszadeh, normally uses the surname Shams.
Turkey And Iran Accused Of Oil-For-Cash Sanctions Scheme | Jamie Dettmer | December 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTHowever this Maidan is not about the surname of this next president.
Parliamentarian Lesya Orobets on the Myth of a Divided Ukraine | Will Cathcart | December 16, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThose of the plates which have only a surname upon them, indicate that the place is a lodging house.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James WillsHer face was pale and her sensuous lips were the color of her skin, whence her surname.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne SueYou love to banter; you love to give me that surname of 'Rich,' to me, now no less poor than Job.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne SueMost people nowadays have one or more Christian names and a surname, but this was not always the case.
Stories That Words Tell Us | Elizabeth O'NeillKent is quite a well-known surname, as also are Derby, Buxton, and many other names of English places.
Stories That Words Tell Us | Elizabeth O'Neill
British Dictionary definitions for surname
/ (ˈsɜːˌneɪm) /
Also called: last name, second name a family name as opposed to a first or Christian name
(formerly) a descriptive epithet attached to a person's name to denote a personal characteristic, profession, etc; nickname
(tr) to furnish with or call by a surname
Origin of surname
1Derived forms of surname
- surnamer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse