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
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
At the time of the Mendez court decision, segregation was widespread in California’s public schools, with children who had Mexican surnames routinely placed on separate campuses that received fewer resources than those serving White students.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
At least three members of the panel have Hispanic surnames.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Though he had been given the surnames of both his parents—Ramírez and Sánchez—as was customary in Venezuela, his first name had been chosen by his father, a successful lawyer with strong left-wing views for whom Lenin was a hero.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
That history includes the surnames Hazeltine, Wilcox, Turner, Norton, Woodall, Willis, Bowman, Warner, Greenlaw and many more.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
At the time of the Mendez court decision, segregation was widespread in California’s public schools, with children who had Mexican surnames routinely placed on separate campuses that received fewer resources than those serving White students.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
At least three members of the panel have Hispanic surnames.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Though he had been given the surnames of both his parents—Ramírez and Sánchez—as was customary in Venezuela, his first name had been chosen by his father, a successful lawyer with strong left-wing views for whom Lenin was a hero.
—Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
That history includes the surnames Hazeltine, Wilcox, Turner, Norton, Woodall, Willis, Bowman, Warner, Greenlaw and many more.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surnames
Noun
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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
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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
-
According to a royal author, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been given some pretty cold nicknames within the palace.—
Tessa Petak,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The inside jokes, the nicknames, the handshakes, singing the songs together.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Critics say millions of people, including married women who have changed their last names, could be excluded from voting and that voter fraud is exceedingly rare in the United States.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
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The president has called for doing away with voting by mail and wants to require every American voter to reregister with proof-of-citizenship documents that, according to election law experts, could disenfranchise married women who changed their last names, students and people of color.—
Sophia Bollag,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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On that day, the mob hurled racist epithets, smoke bombs, and fists at him.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The lawsuit names Bridgeport Hospital and its owner, Yale New Haven Health, and the nurse as defendants in the suit, records show.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Baird names Netflix a best idea Baird says Netflix is well positioned.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As she’s stepped into the spotlight over the past six or so months, she’s decided to craft her own image with no intermediaries—which is a fancy way of saying that A’zion styles herself for her press appearances and red carpets.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
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Spencer Singer styles Chanel devotees Lily-Rose Depp (in a sleeveless vest embellished with pearls and rhinestones) and Gracie Abrams (wearing a beautiful black tweed dress).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 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 6 Apr. 2026.
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