1
as in family names
a name shared by members of a family
judging from your surname, I'd guess that your family is Italian
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in nicknames
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
"da Vinci" was Leonardo's surname but not his family name, Vinci being the town near Florence where the great artist was born
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surnames
Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
The top five American surnames — Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones — remained unchanged from 2010 to 2020, but Asian surnames surged to become the fastest-growing in the decade.
—Mike Schneider, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The best iterations of this event over the past half-century have culminated in victories by global superstars whose surnames are unnecessary.
—Jason Sobel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
For some families, maiden names or other significant surnames are carried on as first names.
—Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 1 Apr. 2026
Hispanic surnames Huff accused Zamora of mounting a primary challenge against her — rather than seeking an open seat or one held by a Latino judge — because of Huff’s race.
—Molly Smith, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Mar. 2026
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
In sports, some siblings are so accomplished that they can be recognized by only their surnames.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
The endless vowels of their surnames—Ruuttu, Saarinen, Ruotsalainen—sail through his mind like a song.
—Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
Such hospitality was reserved for a narrow category of humanity, resembling as closely as possible those local barons whose surnames crusted the stones of local cemeteries.
—Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
The top five American surnames — Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones — remained unchanged from 2010 to 2020, but Asian surnames surged to become the fastest-growing in the decade.
—Mike Schneider, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The best iterations of this event over the past half-century have culminated in victories by global superstars whose surnames are unnecessary.
—Jason Sobel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
For some families, maiden names or other significant surnames are carried on as first names.
—Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 1 Apr. 2026
Hispanic surnames Huff accused Zamora of mounting a primary challenge against her — rather than seeking an open seat or one held by a Latino judge — because of Huff’s race.
—Molly Smith, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Mar. 2026
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
In sports, some siblings are so accomplished that they can be recognized by only their surnames.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
The endless vowels of their surnames—Ruuttu, Saarinen, Ruotsalainen—sail through his mind like a song.
—Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surnames
Noun
-
However, unlike similar programs, these folks have to stay true to their Southern roots and family names, a difficult feat in today’s modern world.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Everyone on both sides of my family has always used family names, which has been really important to me to continue only using family names with my children.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Conacher in a battle of top-tier nicknames.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
And in yet other states, the right covers voices, gestures and nicknames.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sinner, the 2024 Miami Open champion, became the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the Sunshine Double — winning Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back — and the first in history to win the double without losing a set.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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Let people follow problems across functions, not titles up a ladder.—
May Habib,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the winemakers in Alsace have a combination of French and German first and last names because the vines on the other side of the Rhine River are planted in German soil.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
17 Apr. 2026
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Before the couple, who are both 28 and prefer to keep their last names private, walked down the aisle, Alexa had a wedding dress reveal with her eight bridesmaids.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the singer has often said that his time in the group was an education in both music and prejudice, with audiences cheering on the band during performances, and then hurling punches and racial epithets after their shows.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
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Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The complaint names the Jackson estate and the attorneys who lead it — John Branca and John McLain — and private investigator Herman Weisberg as defendants.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
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Likewise, this indictment names no donors.—
Beth Gazley,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kyra, played by an appealingly slippery and soft-spoken Anika Noni Rose, styles herself as a voice of reason, a new neighbor here to make a few practical proposals.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
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Born in Bratislava, Slovakia and now based in California, Adéla works with Chris Horan as her stylist and creative director, who most famously styles Charli xcx and is one of the architects of the Brat-osphere.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Garamendi said the tools exist for Lara, who terms out of office next year, to ensure policyholders are paid in a timely manner.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
17 Dec. 2025
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Regrettably, no one terms the incident a Mass murder.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surnames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surnames. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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