family name
A 'family name' is a hereditary identifier shared by members of a family, often passed down through generations.
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Definition
B1General
(common)A hereditary name shared by family members, typically passed down through generations.
Example
- Her family name is Smith, just like her parents and grandparents.
- In many cultures, the family name comes after the given name.
B2Genealogy
(technical)A surname used to trace lineage and family history.
Example
- Researchers often use family names to track ancestry and build family trees.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "family name":
second namefull namemiddle namegiven nameancestral namegood namecommon namefamily historynew namelegal name