How do you write family names?

Use the plural form of the family name.
Apostrophes are used to convey possession, not to make a word plural, so you shouldn't use them in the plural form of the family name. Most family names simply need an -s at the end to become plural (e.g. Thompsons, Lincolns).
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Is it the 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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What is the correct way to write a family name?

The Whole Family's Last Name

To show possession of a whole family: Add -es or -s to write the family's last name in plural form. Add an apostrophe at the end to show possession.
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Do you put apostrophe after family 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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How do you write two family names?

A hyphenated last name is a combined last name of two spouses. A hyphenated last name may also be called a double surname or double-barrelled surname. For example, Sarah Smith marries Adam Jones. A hyphenated last name would be Smith-Jones or Jones-Smith.
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English Vocabulary - First name? Given name? Forename? What's your name?



How do you pluralize family names?

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 combine family names?

In most states, you have the option to take your spouse's last name, hyphenate your last name, use two last names without a hyphen, or move your maiden name to your middle name and take your spouse's last name.
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Is it Jones's or Jones?

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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Is it the Smith's house or the Smiths house?

Unlike singular possessives, which take an apostrophe followed by an S, plural possessives take an apostrophe alone. So if you're going to the home of the Smiths, you're going to the Smiths' house. If you're going to visit the Williamses, that would be at the Williamses' house. Mr.
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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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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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What is family name example?

A surname is a person's last name, or family name. Smith is a popular surname in the U.S., while Dieng is a popular surname in Senegal. Your surname is your last name. A surname can be Smith, Jones, Johnson, Giacometti — any name that someone gets from their family.
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Is it Thomas or Thomas's?

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 it James or James's?

James's car or James' car? Actually, both ways are correct. 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.
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Do I say James or James's?

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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Is it the Smiths or Smith's family?

The Smiths is plural for "Smith" and means there is more than one person named Smith and the invitation is from them all. When in doubt, we like to use "The Smith Family". The Smith's (with an apostrophe before the s) is the possessive of "Smith" and indicates one person ownership.
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Is it the Jones family or Jones family?

With most surnames, you can simply add an s to the end of your last name to indicate the message is coming from more than one family member, for example, “the Patels.” If your name ends in s or z, as in Jones or Juarez, add es. The Joneses is correct because it indicates more than one member of the family.
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Where does the apostrophe go after a last name?

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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Is it John's house or Johns House?

We also use the apostrophe, usually with the letter 's', to indicate possession, and this is where you need to be careful. The house that belongs to John can be called John's house, and note that the spelling is J-O-H-N-apostrophe-S. When indicating possession, this is the normal form and spelling.
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Is it the Davis's or Davis?

The only time you would add the apostrophe is for possession: Welcome to Kerry Smith's Home or Cole and Kerry Smiths' Home. So if we're making signs, for instance, we'd say: Welcome to the Smiths, Welcome to the McBrides, Welcome to the Davises, Welcome to the Joneses, Welcome to the Hesses.
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Do you add an apostrophe s to a last name ending in Y?

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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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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What is the best way to combine two last names?

There are two types of name blending. "The easiest and most common way to blend two surnames is to double-barrel, with or without a hyphen," says Cécile. "A couple has the right to assume or combine surnames with their marriage certificate, in whichever order, assuming they are not making any changes to the spelling.
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When combining last names Which goes first?

You can go the "traditional" route and list your "maiden" name first, or you could choose to list your new last name first, followed by your original last name. Some couples decide to have both partners change to the hyphenated last name, as a show of unity and equality.
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How do you write both surnames after marriage?

Using Both Surnames

The husband's surname is simply suffixed to yours and it's a win-win for both. Many women also choose to use their maiden name in the work sphere as it has become their brand identity but on documents, they get their names modified. And so, they use both names with ease.
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