1. family names; last names inherited from one’s family
Usage: plural of surname

Examples

• Smith and Johnson are common surnames in America.
• Many women change their surnames when they marry.
• The phone book lists people alphabetically by their surnames.
• Some surnames indicate the original occupation of a family.
• Immigration officials often shortened long surnames at Ellis Island.
• In some cultures, surnames come before given names.
• The researcher traced the origins of several Scottish surnames.