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
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Decade after decade, Chicagoans with Italian surnames have hidden instead of objected.
—
Gary Grasso,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
Star individuals, teams, the language of the sport, anagrams, players with food in their surnames and so much more — there is an enormous amount of fun to be had with soccer trivia and wordplay.
—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
They have been married since 1999, combining their previous surnames, True and Frost.
—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
Unoaerre, previously known as Gori & Zucchi from the surnames of the two founders Leopoldo and Carlo, is credited with having spurred the industrialization of what was previously a local craft largely dependent on small, artisanal workshops and ateliers based in the town.
—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
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
For some families, maiden names or other significant surnames are carried on as first names.
—
Lisa Milbrand,
Parents,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
Many common surnames, such as Carpenter or Baker, originated from occupations passed down through generations, reflecting how closely people’s identities were tied to their work.
—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Decade after decade, Chicagoans with Italian surnames have hidden instead of objected.
—
Gary Grasso,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
Star individuals, teams, the language of the sport, anagrams, players with food in their surnames and so much more — there is an enormous amount of fun to be had with soccer trivia and wordplay.
—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
They have been married since 1999, combining their previous surnames, True and Frost.
—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
Unoaerre, previously known as Gori & Zucchi from the surnames of the two founders Leopoldo and Carlo, is credited with having spurred the industrialization of what was previously a local craft largely dependent on small, artisanal workshops and ateliers based in the town.
—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
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
For some families, maiden names or other significant surnames are carried on as first names.
—
Lisa Milbrand,
Parents,
1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surnames
Noun
-
Commercial viticulture first developed here in the 1970s, led by family names such as Husch, Navarro and Scharffenberger; Husch planted the valley's first Pinot Noir in 1971.
-
The estate has a long, storied history under many family names, but in 1575, the Essenault family rechristened it by contracting their family name to Issan.
Noun
-
The moon's nicknames, like April's Pink Moon, May's Flower Moon or June's Strawberry Moon, originated from Native Americans, Colonial Americans and other cultures' names for the moon.
-
The painting is an abstract map of Chicago titled after one of the city's many nicknames that originated in a Carl Sandburg poem.
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.
-
Let people follow problems across functions, not titles up a ladder.
Noun
-
While the official surname of the British royal family is Mountbatten-Windsor, royals often use their titles as a basis for last names in instances where one is called for.
-
McHale and Dempsey's characters are both Mark but have different last names.
Noun
-
Since construction at the Eagle Rock site — so nicknamed after a decrepit colonnade — first stalled in 2008, the only thing that accumulated faster than the garbage and graffiti were the epithets from outraged community members.
-
The Chawla said multiple campaign road signs were vandalized with racial epithets in two separate incidents.
Verb
-
The complaint names their former coworker, emergency room nurse Nolan Chismire, and alleges misconduct inside the emergency department that went on for years.
-
The declaration names taxes only once because once was enough.
Verb
-
This guest styles her matching tracksuit with pointed pumps, a Lacoste purse, and headband for a sporty-meets-runway look that lands somewhere between sidewalk and catwalk.
-
The 11-foot cord is also notably the longest on this list—a practical plus for anyone who styles away from their outlet.
Verb
-
On the left, an approach that Neem terms post-American has taken root, pushing the arguments of the 1970s in an ever more emphatic direction.
-
Perez, a Cuban-American attorney who terms out from the House this year, has emerged as one of Florida Republicans’ most influential and divisive figures.
Cite this Entry
“Surnames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surnames. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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