Pronunciation

/səˈnaɪm/

Definitions

• Noun: A word that follows a person’s given name and identifies their family or lineage. For example: “Smith is her surname.”
• Adjective: Relating to a person’s last name or family name. For example: “The surname Johnson has a long history.”

Phrases

• “Family surname” denotes the last name passed down through generations.
• “To take a surname” means to adopt a last name after marriage or birth.
• “Her maiden surname” refers to her name before marriage.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “She introduced herself as Emily Thompson, with the surname Thompson being her father’s.”
• Adjective: “The Smiths are a prominent family with a distinguished surname.”
• “After changing her surname, she updated all her documents.”

Synonyms

• Last name
• Family name
• Surname name
• Given name (in contrast)
• Clan name (informal)

Etymology

The word “surname” comes from the Old French “surnom,” which originally referred to an additional name added to one’s given name for identification purposes. It evolved from the Latin “super nomen,” meaning “above the name,” signifying a distinguishing name placed after the first name.