surname

/'sə:neim/

Thân thiện

The teacher writes each student's surname on the board.

Definition

Noun: - The hereditary name common to all members of a family, as distinguished from a personal given name; a family name. It is typically passed down from one generation to the next.

Usage

The surname is used to identify a person's family lineage. In many Western cultures, it is the last name in a person's full name. It follows the given name(s). In formal contexts and official documents, the surname is crucial for identification.

Examples

• Her given name is Elizabeth, and her surname is Taylor.
• Please write your surname in capital letters on the form.
• Many people research their family history to learn about the origin of their surname.
• In the list, the entries are alphabetized by surname.

Advanced Usage

• To be surnamed [Name]: A formal or literary way to state someone's family name.
  • The author, surnamed Fitzgerald, wrote several famous novels.
• Used attributively (like an adjective) to describe something related to a family name.
  • The surname change was approved by the court.

Variants and Related Words

• Family name: A direct synonym for surname.
• Last name: A common synonym, especially in everyday American English.
• Patronymic: A surname derived from the name of a father or ancestor (e.g., Johnson, meaning "son of John").
• Maiden name: The original surname of a woman before she marries and may adopt her spouse's surname.

Synonyms

• Family name
• Last name
• Cognomen (formal)

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Surname and name: A formal phrase meaning the full name, including both family and given names.
  • The document requires your surname and name.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• family name
• cognomen
• last name