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

By the time he was 14, he'd moved to Kingston and adopted the surname Cliff to express the heights he intended on reaching.

Read more on BBC

In May 2018, a Deutsche Bank compliance officer noticed payments from Epstein to the Russian bank accounts of women with Eastern European surnames.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Wallachians were accustomed to give it as a surname to any person who rendered himself conspicuous either by courage, cruel actions, or cunning.”

Read more on Salon

"It must be," declared Ye, a 62-year-old man who, like Chen, asked to be identified by his surname.

Read more on Barron's

Adau has asked the BBC not to use her surname or picture as she does not want to be associated with the programme.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• last name