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
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 May 2024
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 2, were born, their surnames were announced as Mountbatten-Windsor.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for surname 
Noun
Inscriptions in two of the tombs had the same surname, Huan, indicating the complex likely belonged to a family.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 May 2024
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 2, were born, their surnames were announced as Mountbatten-Windsor.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for surname
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'surname.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surname. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
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