1
: an added name derived from occupation or other circumstance : nickname sense 1
2
: the name borne in common by members of a family
Synonyms
Examples of surname in a Sentence
Noun
judging from your surname, I'd guess that your family is Italian
“da Vinci” was Leonardo's surname but not his family name, Vinci being the town near Florence where the great artist was born
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
His surname is derived from Ar-Ramtha, a city on the northern edge of Jordan which grew prosperous through the illicit transit of goods in and out of the country.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Eunice Yoon,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2024
The zoo’s manager, surnamed Huang, said the dogs are one of its top attractions.
—Alex Stambaugh, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surname 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The suspect, a 62-year-old man identified only by his surname, Fan, was said to be upset by the division of property after his divorce.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
His surname is derived from Ar-Ramtha, a city on the northern edge of Jordan which grew prosperous through the illicit transit of goods in and out of the country.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
The individual, surnamed Yang, declined to share his first name due to concerns about speaking with foreign media.
—Eunice Yoon,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2024
The zoo’s manager, surnamed Huang, said the dogs are one of its top attractions.
—Alex Stambaugh, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for surname
Articles Related to surname
Dictionary Entries Near surname
Cite this Entry
“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surname. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share