Surname (noun)

1. The last name or family name of a person.
2. A name added to a person's given name and passed on to their descendants.

Origin:

From the old french word "surnom" meaning added name.

Examples:

1. The surname Smith is one of the most common in the English-speaking world.
2. My surname is Patel.
3. In some cultures, the mother's maiden surname is added as a second surname.
4. The surname tradition is to pass on the father's surname to the children.
5. The surname list is used to trace genealogy and family history.