1
as in family name
a name shared by members of a family
judging from your surname, I'd guess that your family is Italian
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2
as in nickname
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 surname
Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
As part of its strategic shift, the house will continue to be known under the Claudie Pierlot moniker, but will drop the surname in all future branding.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 14 Mar. 2025
Chris Lau, CNN, 9 May 2023
The Chengdu police used social media on Wednesday to report that a 39-year-old man surnamed Chen was arrested on suspicion of opening a casino.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for surname
Noun
The restaurant’s name, Jaji, pays homage to Akbar’s lineage, drawing from both her grandfather’s surname and her Pashtun tribal roots.
—Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
As part of its strategic shift, the house will continue to be known under the Claudie Pierlot moniker, but will drop the surname in all future branding.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Gansu authorities said the suspect, surnamed Hong, was questioned in the city of Dongguan in southern Guangdong province on May 5.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 9 May 2023
The Chengdu police used social media on Wednesday to report that a 39-year-old man surnamed Chen was arrested on suspicion of opening a casino.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for surname
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surname
Noun
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During a panel at 90s Con in Hartford on Friday, the brothers Lawrence — whose real last name is Mignogna — reflected on sacrificing their family name to get ahead in Hollywood.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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The cousins become unwittingly involved in a local election, with opposing factions trying to use their family name for leverage.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Yet his ruthlessness is appreciated by his team-mates, who have given him the nickname El Tiburon (‘The Shark’).—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
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The countdown is on with Alex Ovechkin just 4 goals from overtaking Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's career goal leader – a mark that once seemed unsurmountable and earned Gretzky the nickname The Great One.—
Jim Sergent,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Both will appear on the band’s forthcoming fourth LP, which has yet to be titled.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
4 Apr. 2025
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Fans will have to wait to see whether Menzel and Chenoweth appear in the second-installment of the film — titled Wicked: For Good, after the aforementioned tune.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Patrick Schwarzenegger has not been shy about his desire to somewhat distance himself from his famous last name since landing a role on The White Lotus season 3.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Matthew shared his view that the trio's parents, Joseph and Donna Mignogna, also saw the advantage that using a different last name would provide their children.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The test question for which Taylor was placed on leave included a quote from the text which had a racial epithet.—
Campbell Roper,
Arkansas Online,
3 Apr. 2025
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Lincoln Heights resident Eric Ruffin said at Tuesday night's village meeting that one of the demonstrators called him a racial epithet.—
Antonia Hylton,
NBC News,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The soccer star, 35, welcomed her second baby, a son named Enzo, with husband Servando Carrasco, sharing the happy news with a joint post on Instagram on Sunday, March 30.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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The United Kingdom's National Oceanography Centre was testing the sub, which was named Boaty McBoatface in a viral online poll in 2016, when mooring for the camera system got tangled in its propeller, the center said in a statement Monday.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Crafted from supple suede, this low-top sneaker combines elements of skate, sport, and nostalgia, offering a striking yet streamlined silhouette that can be styled with almost anything.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2025
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The lightweight, breathable fabric is great for remaining temperate during warm travel days and sightseeing excursions, while the flattering fit can be styled in countless different ways: wear it with jeans, a mini skort, linen pants, or really anything else in your suitcase.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Masters Betting Promos: First-Bet Offers For those who wish to tackle the tournament with a first-bet offer that pays back losing first wagers in bonus bets -- often termed no-sweat bets, safety nets and other similar names -- the following offers are worth checking out.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
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Another aspect to consider in discussions was what Wann termed ‘parachute payments’.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surname. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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