The surname meaning is your family name: the part of your full name that you share with your parents, siblings or wider family, such as Garcia, Kumar or Thompson. In English-speaking countries it usually comes last, so people also call it your last name.
Forms, school registers, passports and job applications all ask for it, which is why so many people look up the word. Here you will find a short surname definition, how it differs from a first name and a middle name, where the word comes from and a few points that trip people up when filling in forms.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Family name shared by relativesPart of speech
Noun (countable); rarely a verbPronunciation
SUR-naymAlso called
last name, family nameOpposite field
First name, given name, forenameOrigin
Anglo-French surnoun: sur (over, added) + namePlural
surnames
Define surname: the short answer
A surname is the name that marks which family you belong to. Your first name (or given name) is chosen for you personally. Your surname is usually inherited, passed down from a parent, and many relatives share it.
Take the full name Priya Anand Mehta. Priya is the first name, Anand is a middle name, and Mehta is the surname. On a form that says Surname, she writes Mehta.
Surname, last name, family name: are they the same?
| Form label | What to write |
|---|---|
| Surname / Last name / Family name | Your inherited family name |
| First name / Given name / Forename | Your personal name |
| Middle name | Any name between the two, if you have one |
| Maiden name | A surname someone had before marriage |
In most English forms these labels mean the same thing. The phrase last name only works where the family name comes last. In China, Japan, Korea and Hungary, for example, the family name usually comes first, so family name or surname is clearer than last name.
Using the word in sentences
- Please print your surname in capital letters in the first box.
- The two classmates share a surname but are not related at all.
- After the wedding, she kept her own surname for work.
- The receptionist asked me to spell my surname twice.
- Some families in the village trace their surname back to an old trade.
History behind the surname meaning
The word appeared in English around the early fourteenth century, modeled on Anglo-French surnoun, from sur (over, above, in addition) and noun (name). At first it meant an extra name or title added to a person's given name, often describing a feature, job or place.
Because such names were passed down, by the late medieval period the word had come to mean a family name. A popular belief says it comes from sire name, meaning a father's name. That story is not supported; the sur part means over or added.
Where surnames come from
Around the world, family names usually started from a handful of sources:
- Jobs: names that once meant a smith, baker or tailor.
- Places: a village, river or hill where a family lived.
- A parent's name: names built from a father's name, sometimes with endings such as -son.
- Descriptions: a nickname about looks or character that stuck.
Not everyone has one. Some people in India, Indonesia and other places use a single name, and Iceland mostly uses names formed from a parent's first name instead of a fixed family name. This shows how naming customs depend on culture.
Common slips with the word
Do not write sir name or sirname; the correct spelling is surname, one word. When a form asks for surname first, it wants an order like Mehta, Priya. In everyday speech, the verb form (a man surnamed Lee) is mostly found in news writing. For other personal and family words, browse the words for people hub or the spouse page.
Frequently asked questions
Is surname the first name or last name?
A surname is the family name, which is the last name in most English-speaking countries. Your first name is your given name. If you are unsure on a form, write the name your family shares.
What is my surname if I have only one name?
Some forms let you leave the surname blank or repeat your single name. Others ask you to write it in the surname box. Check the instructions for that form, as rules differ between countries and offices.
Can a woman change her surname after marriage?
In many countries she can choose to take a spouse's surname, keep her own or combine them. The rules and paperwork depend on local law. Her earlier surname is then called her maiden name.
How do you pronounce surname?
Say SUR-naym, with the first part like the word sir. Keep the second part like name.
How is a middle name different from a surname?
A middle name sits between your first name and surname and is often chosen personally or after a relative. The surname is the shared family name. Not everyone has a middle name.