as in surname
a name shared by members of a family
searched for their family name on a popular genealogy website
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of family name
The move to mirror the suffocation of fame and family name by making the show’s scope increasingly claustrophobic is not untrodden territory.
—
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026
The husband can take the wife’s name or the wife can take the husband’s name, but only one family name.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
The sports shirt had the number 64 and his family name Ocasio on it in subtle white lettering.
—Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2026
But the president backed off after appeals from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech executives, including Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO whose family name is attached to the Oakland children’s hospital.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for family name
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026
The husband can take the wife’s name or the wife can take the husband’s name, but only one family name.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
The sports shirt had the number 64 and his family name Ocasio on it in subtle white lettering.
—Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2026
But the president backed off after appeals from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech executives, including Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO whose family name is attached to the Oakland children’s hospital.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for family name
Recent Examples of Synonyms for family name
Noun
-
Kern drew backlash for changing his surname from Hidalgo to Kern ahead of a 1998 congressional run, which opponents called a ploy to appeal to White voters.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The race saw on-again off-again challenger Juan Beto Ruiz ultimately removed from the ballot due to a missing maternal surname on his nomination petitions.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each player’s ring is also personalized with his signature, last name and number.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Despite the two sharing the same last name, deputies did not note if the two missing women are related.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Family name.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/family%20name. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
