Meaning & use
surname
Last updated
A person's family name, shared by other members of the family and typically placed last in Western naming conventions.
See it in a sentence
Her surname changed after she got married.
The form asked for his first name, middle initial, and surname.
A note on using this word
In some cultures, such as Hungary or several East Asian countries, the surname is written before the given name, the reverse of common Western order.
Words with a similar meaning
last namefamily name
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