What is the Difference Between Surname and First Name?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between a surname and a first name lies in their purpose and usage:
- Surname: A surname, also known as a family name or last name, is shared by all members of a family and is passed down through generations. It is used for family identification, legal documentation, and genealogy research. Surnames help distinguish people with the same first names and provide information about a person's lineage, place of origin, or occupation.
- First Name: A first name, also known as a given name or personal name, is the unique name given to an individual at birth or during infancy. It is used to identify and address a person on an individual basis, in personal interactions, and for daily use. First names are essential for distinguishing family members from one another and are often chosen based on cultural, religious, or personal preferences.
In summary, a surname is a shared family name used for family identification and legal purposes, while a first name is a unique, individual name used for personal identification and daily interactions.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Surname and First Name? Comparative Table: Surname vs First Name
Comparative Table: Surname vs First Name
The main difference between a surname and a first name lies in their purpose and position within a person's full name. Here is a table summarizing the differences:
Surname | First Name |
---|---|
1. A surname is a family name, shared by individuals within the same family. | 1 |
Read more:
- First Name vs Last Name
- Forename vs Surname
- Surname vs Last Name
- Family Name vs Surname
- Family Name vs Given Name
- Business Name vs Company Name
- Business Name vs Trading Name
- First vs Second Cousins
- Last vs the Last
- Suffix vs Prefix
- Family vs Families
- Family vs Relatives
- Cover Letter vs Covering Letter
- Ancestry vs Heritage
- Spelling vs Pronunciation
- Nouns vs Proper Nouns
- Ancestry.com vs Genealogy.com
- Hominid vs Hominine
- Difference vs Different