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surname

[sur-naym, sur-naym, sur-naym] / ˈsɜrˌneɪm, ˈsɜrˌneɪm, sɜrˈneɪm /
NOUN
family name
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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His surname has not been disclosed for legal reasons.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

Its name is a portmanteau of Leitz—the surname of its then-owner—and camera.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

"I felt utterly useless," the man, who gave only his surname, Park, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

Born without a surname, her given name was Bridget, and “Biddy” became her nickname.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

It is a direct translation of her surname, Engel, from the German.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Family members, now also bearing surnames like Kellermann, Millhiser and Richards, had flown and driven in from all around the country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

The Enthusiasm Society, whose members are known by their surnames, recruits Saxberger to join and sets about announcing itself to the world via an evening of performed monologues and poetry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

One of the earlier personalities to break the norm over male surnames was Peter Kĩgia, a Kenyan musician who chose his mother's name as his stage name.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Family surnames can also change from one generation to the next, as many anglicised their name when they moved south of the border.

From BBC ● May 1, 2026

Spanish influence in the Philippines is evident in the country’s language, religious practices, surnames, and culture.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Kwon's ex-wife, surnamed Lee, filed for divorce in November 2022, seeking half of his stake in Smilegate Holdings, now Smilegate, according to local media.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

The officer, surnamed Bu, was arrested earlier this month after he was accused of prematurely closing cases on the popular holiday island Jeju and lying to missing persons' families.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

A 62-year-old shopkeeper surnamed Hsu said the drills should be held "every three to six months" to raise awareness among Taiwanese who "have been living in a very safe environment."

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

On recruiting websites, a seafarer surnamed Wang posted that he was recently on the Catalina 7 between last May and this March, traveling between Southeast Asia and China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Another Buccaneer, a Frenchman, surnamed Vent-en-Panne, was so addicted to play that he lost everything but his shirt.

From The Monarchs of the Main, Volume I (of 3) Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers by Walter Thornbury

Ney enlisted at eighteen in a hussar regiment and gradually advanced step by step; Kleber soon discovered his merits, surnaming him "The Indefatigable," and promoted him to be adjutant-general when only twenty-five.

From How to Get on in the World A Ladder to Practical Success by Major A.R. Calhoon

Ney enlisted at eighteen in a hussar regiment, and gradually advanced step by step: Kleber soon discovered his merits, surnaming him “The Indefatigable,” and promoted him to be Adjutant-General when only twenty-five. 

From Self help; with illustrations of conduct and perseverance by Samuel Smiles

I wonder if Sala was the native and surnaming town of that other Sala whose initials are G. A. S., and whose nature is 'ditto'?

From Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No IV, April 1863 Devoted to Literature and National Policy by Various

The Cossack chiefs celebrated his exploits, one of them surnaming him the "hetmann."

From World's Best Histories — Volume 7: France by M. (François) Guizot




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