family name

Definitions

1. 1

   Synonym of surname

   Synonym of surname: a name designating a person as a member of a family.

   • In the Chinese name Mao Zedong, Mao is the family name and Zedong is the given name.
2. 2

   A family’s honor or reputation.

   • I’m talking about that actor you’ve been running around with all over town. You’re going to ruin the family name!
3. 3

   A given name common within a family or given because of another family member.

   • Yeah, we named her Mildred. It's an old family name. Don't worry, though. She also has four middle names to choose from.
   • He had the name of Jeremy given to him, because Jeremiah, as his father said, was a family name; and there was an advantage in curtailing a syllable, and in shewing a preference towards the names of the New Testament over those of the old.

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