Surname
noun
The family name that people have in common with other family members. It is usually passed from one generation to the next.
My surname is Johnson, what's yours?
Often appears as...
- change one's surname
- maiden surname
verb
To give someone a surname or last name.
In medieval times, it was common to surname children after their father's occupation.
Often appears as...
- surname a child
- surname the offspring
Usage tips
Formal
Historical
noun
The family name that people have in common with other family members. It is usually passed from one generation to the next.
My surname is Johnson, what's yours?
Often appears as...
- change one's surname
- maiden surname
verb
To give someone a surname or last name.
In medieval times, it was common to surname children after their father's occupation.
Often appears as...
- surname a child
- surname the offspring
Usage tips
Formal
Historical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Variance
Different cultures have diverse surname traditions and placements in a name sequence.
In Hungary, the surname comes before the given name.
Pro Tip 2/3Marriage Custom
It's common for one spouse to adopt the other's surname after marriage, but practices vary.
Alex Taylor and Jordan Smith might choose to share a surname after marriage.
Pro Tip 3/3Hereditary Significance
Surnames can indicate ancestry and are often passed down from parents to children.
The surname 'Johnson' suggests that an ancestor may have been named John.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Variance
Different cultures have diverse surname traditions and placements in a name sequence.
In Hungary, the surname comes before the given name.
Pro Tip 2/3Marriage Custom
It's common for one spouse to adopt the other's surname after marriage, but practices vary.
Alex Taylor and Jordan Smith might choose to share a surname after marriage.
Pro Tip 3/3Hereditary Significance
Surnames can indicate ancestry and are often passed down from parents to children.
The surname 'Johnson' suggests that an ancestor may have been named John.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Variance
Different cultures have diverse surname traditions and placements in a name sequence.
In Hungary, the surname comes before the given name.
Pro Tip 2/3Marriage Custom
It's common for one spouse to adopt the other's surname after marriage, but practices vary.
Alex Taylor and Jordan Smith might choose to share a surname after marriage.
Pro Tip 3/3Hereditary Significance
Surnames can indicate ancestry and are often passed down from parents to children.
The surname 'Johnson' suggests that an ancestor may have been named John.
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Video examples
How we should name our...
they have so many people in their database they were able to match people with teachers who happen to share their surnames there are half a million emails that went out after the matching and half of the non matching so the matching burden look like this dear reader roses are red violets are blue get to a
Video examples
We can fight terror...
The problem is their enforcement mechanisms are a complete black box, and there is collateral damage. Take, for example, Iyad el-Baghdadi, an activist who makes fun of ISIS on Twitter. He had his account deactivated, because he shares a surname with a prominent ISIS leader.
Video examples
The last chief of the...
He began to go by Quanah Parker, adopting his mother’s surname, and tried to track down his mother and sister, eventually learning they had both died shortly after their capture. Quanah adapted again and again— to different worlds, different roles,
Video examples
Symmetry, reality's...
your surname groups the symmetrical objects generally spell it for me G H e Z now so2 s already been used as you in the mathematical language so you can't have that so gets there we go that's your new symmetrical object you are now immortal
Video examples
Michael Anti: Behind the...
and until recently, you can't search the surname of top leaders. So, the Chinese are very good at these puns and alternative wording and even memes. They even name themselves -- you know, use the name of this world-changing
Video examples
Interviewing for Star...
not a one-off character right they're marrying you for exactly uh it's the marriage rabbuna and I was prepared for that when I walked into Gene Roddenberry's office first of all he mispronounced my a surname he called me
Video examples
Kailash Satyarthi: How...
And that was possible because the beginning would have been to change the family name, or surname, because in India, most of the family names are caste names. So I decided to drop my name.
Video examples
Who belongs in a city? PIPE...
She is a now-homeless woman whose surname means, "the world is blind." Magdalene's son Basil was one of over 20 people who were shot, drowned or presumed dead in that land grab.
Video examples
My Daughter, Malala PIPE...
and I was filling out the family part of the form, I could not recall the surnames of some of my sisters. And the reason was that I have never, never seen the names
Video examples
Marcus du Sautoy:...
has 25 digits. So now I need to name this object. So, what is your name? I need your surname. Symmetrical objects generally -- spell it for me.
Video examples
How we should name our...
they have so many people in their database they were able to match people with teachers who happen to share their surnames there are half a million emails that went out after the matching and half of the non matching so the matching burden look like this dear reader roses are red violets are blue get to a
Video examples
We can fight terror...
The problem is their enforcement mechanisms are a complete black box, and there is collateral damage. Take, for example, Iyad el-Baghdadi, an activist who makes fun of ISIS on Twitter. He had his account deactivated, because he shares a surname with a prominent ISIS leader.
Video examples
The last chief of the...
He began to go by Quanah Parker, adopting his mother’s surname, and tried to track down his mother and sister, eventually learning they had both died shortly after their capture. Quanah adapted again and again— to different worlds, different roles,
Video examples
Symmetry, reality's...
your surname groups the symmetrical objects generally spell it for me G H e Z now so2 s already been used as you in the mathematical language so you can't have that so gets there we go that's your new symmetrical object you are now immortal
Video examples
Michael Anti: Behind the...
and until recently, you can't search the surname of top leaders. So, the Chinese are very good at these puns and alternative wording and even memes. They even name themselves -- you know, use the name of this world-changing
Video examples
Interviewing for Star...
not a one-off character right they're marrying you for exactly uh it's the marriage rabbuna and I was prepared for that when I walked into Gene Roddenberry's office first of all he mispronounced my a surname he called me
Video examples
Kailash Satyarthi: How...
And that was possible because the beginning would have been to change the family name, or surname, because in India, most of the family names are caste names. So I decided to drop my name.
Video examples
Who belongs in a city? PIPE...
She is a now-homeless woman whose surname means, "the world is blind." Magdalene's son Basil was one of over 20 people who were shot, drowned or presumed dead in that land grab.
Video examples
My Daughter, Malala PIPE...
and I was filling out the family part of the form, I could not recall the surnames of some of my sisters. And the reason was that I have never, never seen the names
Video examples
Marcus du Sautoy:...
has 25 digits. So now I need to name this object. So, what is your name? I need your surname. Symmetrical objects generally -- spell it for me.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jimmy Smits
American Actor
I have been in rooms with people arguing over a character that's not really fleshed out: that, just because the surname is Latino, that automatically means you have an accent.
Quote examples
William Butler Yeats
Irish Poet
The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth.
Quote examples
Sharmila Tagore
Indian Actress
A Tagore surname signifies an association with aesthetics and all the best things of life. It's enriching both personally and professionally.
Quote examples
Karisma Kapoor
Indian Actress
The Kapoor surname has legend, a passion for acting, respect and love attached to it. And I am very proud of that.
Quote examples
John Hurt
British Actor
My surname certainly suggests a man whose destiny has always been injury.
Quote examples
Arjun Kapoor
Indian Actor
Your success can't be determined by your surname but only by your work.
Quote examples
Rhea Chakraborty
Indian Actress
Everyone thinks I am Punjabi till I tell them my surname Chakraborty.
Quote examples
Atishi
Indian Politician
I never used my surname. My full name is Atishi Marlena Singh.
Quote examples
Mel Giedroyc
English Entertainer
I've spent my entire life spelling my surname.
Quote examples
Prateik Babbar
Indian Actor
I never dropped my surname.
Quote examples
Jimmy Smits
American Actor
I have been in rooms with people arguing over a character that's not really fleshed out: that, just because the surname is Latino, that automatically means you have an accent.
Quote examples
William Butler Yeats
Irish Poet
The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth.
Quote examples
Sharmila Tagore
Indian Actress
A Tagore surname signifies an association with aesthetics and all the best things of life. It's enriching both personally and professionally.
Quote examples
Karisma Kapoor
Indian Actress
The Kapoor surname has legend, a passion for acting, respect and love attached to it. And I am very proud of that.
Quote examples
John Hurt
British Actor
My surname certainly suggests a man whose destiny has always been injury.
Quote examples
Arjun Kapoor
Indian Actor
Your success can't be determined by your surname but only by your work.
Quote examples
Rhea Chakraborty
Indian Actress
Everyone thinks I am Punjabi till I tell them my surname Chakraborty.
Quote examples
Atishi
Indian Politician
I never used my surname. My full name is Atishi Marlena Singh.
Quote examples
Mel Giedroyc
English Entertainer
I've spent my entire life spelling my surname.
Quote examples
Prateik Babbar
Indian Actor
I never dropped my surname.
Example 1 of 10
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