When you have the same last name as someone is it most likely your related to them?

Question

Just wondering..

I thought it would be a nice question to ask.

Answer 1

It depends on how common the last name is. It's less likely you're related to them.  

Answer 2

No. Take the name Smith for example. Can be an English surname, in which case there is no common ancestor; the name simply represents a person's occupation. Smiths are found all over England. The name can also have a Gaelic source, and is very common in Scotland and Ireland, where it if often an Anglicization of the McGowan surname. In this case a common ancestor is more likely between people sharing the surname. However, since Gaelic names are so old, your talking often about going back over a thousand years to the source of the surname. In Celtic culture, surnames are linked to a single ancestor. In Anglo-Saxon culture, people are named after occupations and places etc.

My surname is Griffin, and it is very common in the Irish Southwest, but can also come from the Welsh surname Griffith. In Ireland, there are two main clans associated with Griffin - the Ó Gríobhtha of Clare and the Ó Griffín of Kerry. I'm an Ó Gríobhtha and our surname can be Griffin, O'Griffin, O'Griffey, Griffey etc in English. Complicated isn't it... However, if I was to meet a Griffin from Clare I doubt we would be close relatives since the Griffin surname dates back to at least the fifth century. However, if I lived in a little American village and there was another family there called Griffin, we might well share the same Great grandfather or something. Or they might be descendants of a Welsh family that also moved to the area some time in the past. Who knows?

Answer 3

No it depends on your name. If its a commen name such as Brown it most likely not related if you have a uncommen name you are probally related.

Answer 4

No. Lot's of people in my area have the same last name as I do and I am not related to a single one of them.

Also, the pronunciation is different even though both names are spelt exactly the same way.

Two totally different culture and countries of origin.

Answer 5

The short answer is no.  Trade names are common - smith, tailor, tiler and others.  Before  people in Europe had surnames they were either john, son of_____ or they were John the Smith.

When Surnames became legalised and set down these nicknames became surnames, so they could be from anywhere.

The longer answer is - it depends on the name.  

I have a friend with a very unusual Irish surname - she is related to ALL the people with this name.  But this is vey rare.

The only way to find out is to research your family tree.

Answer 6

i love your question and i'm giving u a star..but i donno.i don't think os bc my dad has this cousin and his cousins daughter goes 2 my school and i never knew i was related 2 her..we have diff last names though

Answer 7

Maybe. In the USA, most people named Pack and Cady are related.

On the other hand, Robert E. Lee didn't have any Chinese cousins. All those Lees in China (and in the rest of the world  that has Chinese populations) are no relation to the confederate general.

You could search the resolved questions for "related" to find 300 questions just like yours, already answered.