surname
noun
the name that a person has in common with other family members, as distinguished from a first name or given name; family name.
surnames
-
pluralof surname.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
-
present tense formof surname (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
surnamenounthe name that a person has in common with other family members, as distinguished from a first name or given name; family name.
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.
People with well-recognised Cuban-American surnames – like Bacardi and Babun – chat around the pool about the lamentable state of the island's economy, and share titbits of gossip about the latest political rumblings.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Family members, now also bearing surnames like Kellermann, Millhiser and Richards, had flown and driven in from all around the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
For more than a decade, Hannah had been known by two surnames.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Wairimũ Mũkũrũ, a young Kikuyu cultural expert with a large social media following, says the rise of female surnames is largely down to the fact that single-mother families have become much more common.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Ifemelu suddenly did not remember which was the boy and which the girl; both names, Morgan and Taylor, sounded to her like surnames.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
