Surname

In many societies, a surname or family name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several given names and surnames are possible in the full name. In modern times most surnames are hereditary, although in most countries a person has a right to change their name. A surname may also be referred to as a last name in English, but not all societies place them last; some cultures place them at the start of a person's name.