surname

American  

[sur-neym, sur-neym, sur-neym] / ˈsɜrˌneɪm, ˈsɜrˌneɪm, sɜrˈneɪm /

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.

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verb (used with object)

surnamed, surnaming

1. to give a surname to; call by a surname.

surname British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (tr) to furnish with or call by a surname

Other Word Forms

• surnamer noun
• unsurnamed adjective

Etymology

Origin of surname

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (noun); 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:

• surname vs. maiden name
• surname vs. given name
• surname vs. forename

Example Sentences

"When I come to this place for the second time, hope suddenly appears," 20-year-old Igor, who declined to give his surname, said.

From Barron's

Officials with the same rank are sorted by how their names are written—starting with the number of strokes in their surname, in ascending order.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even with the small fortune on offer, the prospect of enlisting is a hard "Nyet" for tractor driver Roman, who like everybody AFP spoke to refused to give his surname.

From Barron's

Ling, another former employee who gave only her surname, told AFP that Lai "believed words had value" and held reporters and press freedoms in high regard.

From Barron's

"If the international community truly wants to stop the violence and prevent further global instability, action is required," said Shirin, 52, who asked that her surname not be published, fearing for family in Iran.

From BBC

Related Words

• last name