1
: an added name derived from occupation or other circumstance : nickname sense 1
2
: the name borne in common by members of a family
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
Danielle Powell Cobb, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Hurt got her professional surname after marrying William Hurt in 1971.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 19 Mar. 2026
The teen, surnamed Lu, cushioned his piggy bank after receiving products worth 4.76 million yuan ($680,000), thanks to his 11,900 phony return requests addressed to the unnamed brand.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
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Noun
According to a Wall Street Journal report, the surname of a survivor was left unredacted, enabling news outlets to identify her.
—Danielle Powell Cobb, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Hurt got her professional surname after marrying William Hurt in 1971.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
In 2013, he was charged with fraud for allegedly failing to repay 100 million won ($89,000) to an accuser surnamed Choi.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 19 Mar. 2026
The teen, surnamed Lu, cushioned his piggy bank after receiving products worth 4.76 million yuan ($680,000), thanks to his 11,900 phony return requests addressed to the unnamed brand.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surname
Cite this Entry
“Surname.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surname. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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