What Is A Surname?

I believe a surname is one's last name...♥

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In general terms a 'surname' is your last name, or family name.
 Surname is usually used because it often has a better sound than to just say 'last name' and many people simply prefer to use more specific words to convey their meaning instead of the more common terms.
 Also, the term 'Last Name' is most commonly used in western cultures, whereas 'Surname' is of a more global understanding. After all, in Japan for instance, your surname is listed first when your full name is being referred to (i.e.: Miyazaki Hayao, where his family name (or surname) is Miyazaki), so the term 'last name' wouldn't exactly work correctly, would it?
 So in using the word 'surname' there is not much grounds for misunderstanding, as it simply means your family name, or the name you share in common with other members of your family. (More rarely it can also be a nickname, or epithet added to a person's name to indicate circumstance of birth [Claude Beauchanmp dSt Claire - literally Claude Beauchamp of Saint Claire], but this convention is not used in most western cultures anymore)
 I hope this answer has helped in some way, if so, please rate it appropriately. Thank you and good luck!
 (Huh... I'm really getting slow in my old age, 4 answers [and comments!] in the time it takes me to write my one answer... Maybe I try to put too much into my answers, neh? (^_^)...)

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Surname is your family name either chosen or passed down through history. It shows your lineage ,where your from , your country of origin if you track it down to it's root meaning. www.ancestry.com

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I have to agree 100% with Nascarnut, a surname is your last name.

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It's your last name, hun, or the name you could call your whole family by.. The Smiths, the Millers.. So there you go! Surname = last name.

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A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a "surname" is a family name; the family-name meaning first appeared in 1375. Many dictionaries use "surname" as a synonym of "family name."
Surnames are often influenced by common elements: The name of the person's father or mother, the person's geographical origin, the person's occupation, or a descriptive nickname for the person. When they were created, they answered one of the following questions: Who is this person related to? Where is this person from? What does this person do for a living? What is his or her most prominent feature?
For instance, the names Smith and Cooper may originate from the blacksmith and cooper metal work occupations, respectively. Names such as Cohen, may denote a prominent religious background; Cohen is a name usually found among male descendants of Jewish priests.

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Surname is a person's second name, or in some places surname is a person's parents or guadian's name especially a father's name. 

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Dictionary Answer: 1.The name that a person has in common with other family members, as distinguished from a Christian name or given name;family name.
2.A name that is added to a persons name,as one indicating a circumstance of birth or some characteristic or achievement;epithet.
3.To give surname to;call by a surname.
 
I hope this helps.
I notice alot of questions regarding wanting to know about meanings of certain surnames & from what I get out of the true definition it does have to do with a last name.
I just don't understand what they are trying get out of finding the meaning of it...maybe the nationalities of the last name & from where (what countries) it comes from??? That sounds good to me :-) 
 

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Surname means last name, or family name. Don't take this personally, just curious...how old are you?

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Simply Surname is one's last name!!!

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Your surname is the name borne in common by members of your family. In some cultures it's the first name, and others it's the last.

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Surname is your last name.
John Smith.
Smith is his surname. :)

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