A surname is a family name — the part shared with relatives, as opposed to a given name. A maiden name is specifically the surname a person had before marriage, in cultures where one partner takes the other's name. A maiden name is a surname; most surnames are not maiden names.
The core difference
- surname — family name, held by anyone. Also called last name or family name.
- maiden name — the surname held before marriage, used only in contrast with a name taken at marriage.
Why forms still ask
Banks, insurers and government bodies ask for a maiden name because it links records created before and after a name change. It is also a long-standing security question, though that use is now widely discouraged — a maiden name is frequently discoverable from public genealogical records, which makes it weak as a secret.
The terminology is being replaced
Maiden assumes the person changing their name is a woman marrying for the first time, which is why many institutions now ask for previous name, name at birth or former name instead. Those cover the same ground and also handle names changed for other reasons.
The counterpart term née — French for born, feminine — is still used in formal writing and obituaries: Jane Smith, née Brown. The masculine form né exists and is rare.
Last name is not always last
The English term last name is a poor global default. Hungarian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese naming conventions place the family name first. Icelandic mostly uses patronymics rather than inherited surnames, so a family may have four different second names. Many Spanish-speaking countries use two surnames, one from each parent, and neither is dropped at marriage.
Where the word comes from
Surname is not from sire. It comes from Anglo-French surnom, from sur- (above, over) plus nom (name) — the name added over the top of the given one. Inherited surnames became widespread in England only after the Norman conquest, largely for administrative reasons.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a surname and a maiden name?
A surname is any family name. A maiden name is specifically the surname held before marriage, so it is one kind of surname rather than a separate thing.
What should forms ask for instead of maiden name?
Previous name, former name or name at birth. These cover name changes for any reason and do not assume the person is a woman marrying.
Is a maiden name a good security question?
No. It is often discoverable from public genealogical records, which makes it weak as a shared secret.