Surname Trademark Refusal: How to Overcome USPTO Rejections0

• Development, Law Government
• July 21, 2026

Receiving a Surname Trademark Refusal from the USPTO creates a major roadblock for business owners. Entrepreneurs often build entire brands around family names or personal identities. Suddenly, federal examiners push back hard. Under Section 2(e)(4) of the Lanham Act, the USPTO routinely rejects applications. Examiners issue these refusals when they determine that a proposed mark