How do you pluralize a last name?

Names are proper nouns, which become plurals the same way that other nouns do: add the letter -s for most names (“the Johnsons,” “the Websters”) or add -es if the name ends in s or z (“the Joneses,” “the Martinezes”).
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Is it Smiths or Smith's?

All you need is an “s” at the end of the name (Smiths, Johnsons). If you have trouble remembering whether the apostrophe is necessary, think of your message. For instance, if you mean to say, “The Smiths live here,” then you don't need the apostrophe on the sign or that sentence.
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Is an apostrophe needed to pluralize a last name?

Don't use an apostrophe to make your last name plural. Apostrophes can be used to show possession—à la the Smithsʼ house or Tim Johnsonʼs pad— but they don't indicate there's more than one person in your family.
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Is it Jones or Jones's?

Jones = Mr. Jones's. Some people favor adding only an apostrophe to a singular noun ending in s, but if you follow the rule, you can't be wrong. If a plural noun does not end in an s, you must make it possessive by adding an apostrophe and an s: women's; children's.
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How do you write family last name plural?

You usually make family names plural by adding an “s” to the end.
...
With names, apostrophes are for possessives.
  1. The Joneses' dinner was a success.
  2. The Foxes' house was beautiful.
  3. The Alvarezes' grandmother was delighted.
  4. The Churches' singing was heavenly.
  5. The Ashes' train derailed in the mountains.
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How Are You Supposed To Make Last Names Plural?



How do you address a last name in plural?

In most cases, you only have to add an s to the end of their entire last name—even if the last letter is y. So the Smith family becomes the Smiths, the Angelo family becomes the Angelos, and the Perry family becomes the Perrys.
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How do you use apostrophes with last names?

Remember: the only time you add an apostrophe to a last name is if you are making your last name possessive. For example, "That is the Gamels' house on the corner."
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Do you add an apostrophe s to a last name ending in s?

If a proper name ends with an s, you can add just the apostrophe or an apostrophe and an s. See the examples below for an illustration of this type of possessive noun. You're sitting in Chris' chair. You're sitting in Chris's chair.
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Is Thomas's correct?

So a safe solution is to treat singular nouns ending in S the same way you treat singulars nouns not ending in S: Form the possessive with an apostrophe and an S. Thomas's house. The important thing to remember is that Thomas is singular.
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Is Ross's correct?

The “Chicago Manual of Style” says that you form the possessive of proper names ending in S the same way you handle plain-old nouns: Add apostrophe and S. The boss's house. Ross's house.
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Is it the Johnsons or the Johnson's?

If your last name is Johnson and you want to send a card from your family, simply add an "s": The Johnsons ("Merry Christmas from the Johnsons!"). Only use an apostrophe when you want to make a name possessive. ("From The Smith's" is always wrong, but "The party is at the Smiths' house" is correct.)
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Is it Hayes's or Hayes?

I'm trying to get a neon sign for a wedding but my new last name is going to be Hayes. Would it say the Hayeses (that just looks off to me), the Hayes's or the Hayes'? According to Merriam-Webster, it would be Hayeses. The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns.
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How do you make Williams plural?

First, make the noun Williams into a plural: Williamses. Then add the possessive apostrophe according to the rules that gave us “the cats' tails.” That gives us “We had dinner at the Williamses' house last year.”
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How do you pluralize last names on Christmas cards?

If your last name ends in -s, -z, -ch, -sh, or -x, you add -es to your last name to make it plural. For example: Happy Holidays from the Joneses! If you don't like how your name looks with “-es”, you could always opt for “The Jones Family” instead of “The Joneses”.
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Is it Davis's or Davis?

According to Grammarbook.com, the nerds of the world will argue heatedly on the subject for eternity, but the most roundly accepted rule is to include the apostrophe, along with an extra “S.” (Davis's rather than Davis').
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Which is correct James's or James?

For proper names like James, AP says, add an apostrophe only: He borrowed James' car. For generics like boss, add an apostrophe plus S: He borrowed the boss's car. But there's an exception: When the word that follows begins with an S, use an apostrophe only. Hence: the boss' sister.
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What is the rule for apostrophe after S?

In general, the rule is to use only an apostrophe after S with a possessive plural noun. You do not need to place anything else after the possessive apostrophe. With a singular noun, you place an apostrophe before S to show possession.
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What are the 3 rules for apostrophes?

The apostrophe has three uses: 1) to form possessive nouns; 2) to show the omission of letters; and 3) to indicate plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols. ​Do not ​use apostrophes to form possessive ​pronouns ​(i.e. ​his​/​her ​computer) or ​noun ​plurals that are not possessives.
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Is it Williams or Williams's?

The Associated Press Stylebook recommends just an apostrophe: It's Tennessee Williams' best play. But most other authorities endorse 's: Williams's. Williams's means “belonging to Williams.” It is not the plural form of Williams. People's names become plural the way most other words do.
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Why do people put apostrophes in last names?

Answer: It stands for 'son of…' or 'member of…', so 'O'Brien' goes back to King of Ireland Brian Boru, in the same way 'Mac' in Scotland means that 'I belong to that clan originally'.
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Is it Jones or Jones's possessive?

According to English style guides, singular possessives are formed with –'s and plurals with just an apostrophe, so the possessive of the singular Jones is Jones's and of the plural Joneses is Joneses'.
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How do you address someone with multiple last names?

If both have different titles or the same title but different last names, distinguish each full name with a relevant title, joined by "and" (The Reverend Henry Jones and Dr. Anna Jones or Dr. Henry Jones and Dr. Anna Smith).
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How do you make a couple's last name plural?

How do I make my last name plural?
  1. GENERAL RULE. Simply add an s.
  2. EXCEPTION. If your name ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add an es.
  3. EXAMPLES. Love, the Andersons. Love, the Joneses. Love, the Smiths. Love, the Foxes. Love, the Johnsons. Love, the Kennedys. Love, the Churches. Love, the Days.
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What is the plural of Martinez?

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

Names are proper nouns, which become plurals the same way that other nouns do: add the letter -s for most names (“the Johnsons,” “the Websters”) or add -es if the name ends in s or z (“the Joneses,” “the Martinezes”).
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How do you make Harris plural?

Drop those apostrophes, Bob. When you meet up with another Harris, we have two Harrises. If you're married, your spouse is Bob Harris's wife. You and your family live in the Harrises' abode.
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