What is a Surname?
A surname is a family name or last name that is shared among members of the same family and passed down from generation to generation. It typically serves as a personal identifier that links individuals to their family heritage, lineage, or geographic origins.
A surname is the part of a person’s name that indicates their family, clan, or ancestry. It is usually passed down from one generation to the next and distinguishes individuals within a larger family or group. In many cultures, the surname comes after the given name (first name), though in some cultures it comes before.
A surname, also known as a family name or last name, is a name added to a person’s given name (or first name).
Its primary purpose is to identify which family, clan, or tribe a person belongs to. In many cultures, the surname is passed down from one generation to the next, typically from the father or parents.
Placement: While in English-speaking countries the surname usually comes after the given name (e.g., John Smith), in many cultures, such as those in East Asia (e.g., China, Japan, Korea) and Hungary, the family name comes first (e.g., Mao Zedong).
Cultural Variation: How surnames are used, inherited, and hyphenated varies widely around the world. For example, in Spanish-speaking countries, a person often has two surnames—the father’s first surname followed by the mother’s first surname.
A surname is a family name or last name shared by members of a family, typically inherited and used to identify individuals within that family or lineage. It distinguishes one family from another and is often passed down through generations. In many cultures, surnames follow the given name (e.g., John Smith, where “Smith” is the surname). They can originate from various sources, such as occupations (e.g., Baker), locations (e.g., Hill), personal characteristics (e.g., Young), or ancestral names (e.g., Johnson, meaning “son of John”). Surnames are a key part of naming conventions worldwide, though their use and structure vary across cultures.
