last name

See also: last-name

English

Noun

last name (plural last names)

1. One's family name; surname.

Usage notes

• A last name is so called because it is in English written last, after the given names. However, in many other languages and cultures this name precedes the given name; in these cases, the terms surname or family name are more appropriate.
• The term last name is more common in the United States, surname in the British Isles.

Synonyms

• family name, surname
• See also Thesaurus:surname

Translations

surname — see surname

See also

• first name, forename, given name
• personal name
• middle name

Anagrams

• altnames, slametan, talesman