Plural last name ending in s
- possessive of names that end in s
- possessive apostrophe names that end in s
- plural possessive names that end in s
- possessive case of names ending in s
S' or 's rule!
Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide
The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns. They typically get formed by adding -s.
Apa possessive names ending in s
Except, that is, if the name already ends in s or z. Then the plural is formed by adding -es.
the Smith clan → the Smiths
Jill and Sam Clarence → the Clarences
Mr. and Mrs.
Jones → the Joneses
the Fernandez family → the Fernandezes
"And remember—it's Socrates' deathbed, but Zeus's lovers."
Unlike regular nouns that end in y, names that end in y are also made plural by adding -s:
the Kennedy clan → the Kennedys
the Daley family → the Daleys
Possession And Names
If you want to talk about something that belongs to more than one member of a family, you start with the plural form and add an apostrophe to show possession:
the Smiths' car
a party at the Fernandezes' house
the Daleys' driveway
If you want to talk about something that belongs to a single person being identified by last name, you follow the usual -'s rule for most names:
the car that belongs to Smith → Smith's car
For names that end i
- possessive of names ending in double s
- possessive names ending in s uk