surname
Americannoun
-
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.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
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
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has surnamedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have surnamedperfect
-
has been surnamingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am surnamingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been surnamingperfect progressive
-
is surnamingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are surnamingprogressive
-
surnamessingular 3rd person
-
surnamingparticiple
Past
-
had surnamedperfect
-
was surnamingprogressive singular
-
had been surnamingperfect progressive
-
were surnamingprogressive plural
-
surnamedsimple
-
surnamedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of surname
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (noun); see sur- 1, name; modeled on Old French surnom
Compare meaning
How does surname compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A surname is a person’s last name, or family name. Smith is a popular surname in the U.S., while Dieng is a popular surname in Senegal. Your surname is your last name. A surname can be Smith, Jones, Johnson, Giacometti — any name that someone gets from their family. The word surname derives from sur “above" + name. The term surname was first used by feudal lords, who adopted the name of their property as their family name. A surname can be derived from a place name (e.g., London) or a trade (e.g., Schneider means "tailor" in German).
Vocabulary lists containing surname
Save Me a Seat
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: March 30–April 5, 2019
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Names/Nombres" by Julia Alvarez
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 family also received incorrect information about how to make a complaint and on another occasion were sent a form for another family with the same surname.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
For many fans outside Mexico, the surname Ochoa is synonymous with the World Cup.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
A man who identifies himself as "Mark" and refuses to give his surname says the device belongs to the company, but he won't allow Alex to recover his personal data from the phone.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
When Kafka died of tuberculosis in 1924 at age 40, he was virtually unknown; by the late 1930s he was an international phenomenon, his surname a signifier of bureaucratic inhumanity and modern unease.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
One last advisory word: Our family’s surname is Glass.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
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.
