family name / surname
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family name
The part of a person's name that indicates belonging to a family; also referred to as a surname or last name.
In vielen Kulturen wird der Familienname des Vaters an die Kinder weitergegeben.
In many cultures, the father's family name is passed on to the children.
The word is made up of 'Familie' (family) and 'Name' (name), connected by an '-n-'. So it quite literally means 'the name of the family' and is therefore easy to understand.
Bitte tragen Sie hier Ihren Vornamen und Ihren Familiennamen ein.
Please enter your first name and your family name here.
Certain verbs are often used in connection with 'Familienname' (family name). Common phrases are 'einen Familiennamen tragen' (to bear a family name), 'den Familiennamen des Partners annehmen' (to take one's partner's family name), or 'seinen Familiennamen ändern' (to change one's family name).
Nach der Heirat hat sie den Familiennamen ihres Mannes angenommen.
After the wedding, she took her husband's family name.
In official contexts, especially in forms and registrations, providing the family name is a standard field. There, it is often also referred to as 'Nachname' (last name).
Füllen Sie bitte die Felder für Vorname und Familienname aus.
Please fill in the fields for first name and family name.
name
'der Name' and 'der Familienname' both belong to identifying a person. 'Name' is the general word and can be the first name, family name, or the full name. 'Familienname' is only the part that you share with your family, that is, the last name. The words can be confused when a form asks for 'Name'. Then it sometimes means the full name, and sometimes only the last name. When it needs to be precise, 'Familienname' is clearer.
Ihr Familienname steht im Pass direkt hinter dem Vornamen.
Your family name appears in your passport directly after your first name.
Bitte schreiben Sie Ihren Namen oben auf das Formular.
Please write your name at the top of the form.