Difference Between Forename and Surname

The key difference between forename and surname is that the forename is the name that your parents chose for you at birth whereas surname is your family name, which you share with the other members of the family.

Forename and surname are two parts of a personal name. In most western countries, forename occurs before the surname. However, in some Asian countries, the surname precedes the forename.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Forename
3. What is a Surname
4. Side by Side Comparison – Forename vs Surname in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is a Forename?

Forename is your first name or personal name given to you at birth or baptism. It identifies you as a separate individual, differentiating you from the other members of your family with whom you share the family name.

In most western countries, forename comes before the family name. For example, if you look at the name John Adams, Jon is the forename while Adams is the family name. However, in some Asian countries like Korea and China, forename occurs after the family name. For example, if we take the name Kim Yugyeom, Kim is the family name while Yugyeom is the given name.

In informal situations, we use forenames in a friendly and a formal manner. In other words, we use the forename to address our friends and close relatives.

What is a Surname?

Surname, also known as family name, is a hereditary name common to all members of the family. The use of surnames is common to most cultures in the world; however, each culture may have its own rules about forming surnames as well as using and passing them. In most countries, a child inherits the surname of his father. Moreover, women also tend to take the surname of their husband after marriage.

In the English-speaking world, a surname occurs at the end of the name, after any given names. Therefore, we also call it the last name. However, in some Asian countries, surname occurs before the given name. Moreover, Spanish and Portuguese people tend to have more than one surname.

Furthermore, surnames are often used with titles such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, and, Doctor. Moreover, we also use surnames to refer to someone in authority, the elderly, or in a formal setting.

What is the Difference Between Forename and Surname?

Forename is the name that is chosen for you at birth whereas surname is your family name, which you share with the other members of the family. Therefore, this is the key difference between forename and surname. While a surname is shared by all members of the family, a forename differentiates a person from the other members of the family. Moreover, a forename is usually chosen by parents or guardians of the child whereas a surname is inherited. Hence, we can consider this as another difference between forename and surname.

Order of forename and surname differs in western countries and Asian countries. In most western countries, the surname follows the forename. However, in some Asian countries like Japan, China, and Korea, forename follows the surname. Thus, this is also an important difference between forename and surname.

Summary – Forename vs Surname

Forename and surname are two parts of a personal name. The key difference between forename and surname is that the forename is the name that your parents chose for you at birth whereas surname is your family name, which you share with the other members of the family. In most western countries, the surname follows the forename. However, in some Asian countries like Japan, China, and Korea, forename follows the surname.

Image Courtesy:

1.”FML names-2″By Hyacinth (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.”4995625096″ by Howard Lake (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr
3.”Popular surnames Wikidata query”By Lea Lacroix (WMDE) – Own work, (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia