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Family name

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A History of Family Names

A surname, family name, or last name is the portion of a personal name that indicates a person's family. Depending on the culture, all members of a family unit may have identical surnames or there may be variations based on the cultural rules.
    • Definition of a surname 

    • Origins 

    • Medieval Era and beyond 

    • Modern era 

    • Family name discrimination against women 

    • Patronymic surnames 

    • Examples 

    • Occupational surnames 

    • Toponymic surnames 

    • Acquired and ornamental surnames 

    • Gender-specific versions of surname 

    • Other 

    • Order of names 

    • English compound surnames 

    • Chinese compound surnames 

    • Spanish-speaking world 

    • Informal traditional names 

    • Compound surnames 

    • Portuguese-speaking countries 

    • Culture and prevalence