family name / surname
Loading your saved state.
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.
last name
Nachname and Familienname both refer to a person’s family name. Nachname is the more common, less formal term in everyday life, whereas Familienname is particularly suitable in official contexts. Both words are understood when filling out a form, but Nachname usually sounds more natural in ordinary conversation.
Bitte tragen Sie hier Ihren Familiennamen ein.
Please enter your family name here.
Wie ist bitte Ihr Nachname?
What is your last name, please?
