surname
noun [ C ] mainly UK (US usually last name); (UK also second name)
the name that you share with other members of your family; last name:
- Her first name is Sarah but I don't know her surname.
Cambridge Dictionary
I am aware that speakers of British English generally use the term "surname" and AmE speakers use "last name." What I want to know is how long it has been this way, i.e. if AmE speakers ever used the word "surname" and if so, when did they switch to using "last name"?
Best Answer
The usage of "last name" has been increasing in the last 200 years:
Link to Ngram