Does having the same last name mean they come from the same family?

Not necessarily, I have two brothers in law with the same surname, and as far back as I can see no common ancestors.

Does having the same last name mean they come from the same family?
Sometimes.





Most people named Cady in the USA descend from Nicholas, born about 1627, d. 1712 in what was then colonial Connecticut.





Many of the people named Pack in the USA descend from Samuel or George, who were probably brothers and probably fought in minor battles in the (American) Revolution.





One out of every 100 people in the USA is named Smith, on the other hand. There are Smiths from England, France, China, Russia and Germany at least.





http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/name...


will tell you how common a surname was in the USA in 1990. (Smith was 1st, Pack 1,681st.) If it is rare - in the 2,000+ range in common rank - there's a chance the two who bear it are related.





Tracing backwards to a common ancestor is the only way to prove the relation.
Reply:haha, no. in an ideal world it would though.


there are white smiths and black smiths.... there are spanish garcias and mexicans (native american) garcias.
Reply:No.





Way back when, a king, ( I think it was a english king), required all the subjects to pick a sir name. Many chose their occupation for a last name. That is why there are so many Smiths, Millers, Potters, Carpenters ETC.
Reply:Nope, I have a Great, Great Aunt Smith who married a man whose last name was also Smith so she was a Smith-Smith


and no relation between the family prior to marriage.


Just one of those things, With common Surnames the chances that you are related is very slim in most cases.
Reply:No.


Of course not.
Reply:simply as others stated, 'No.'
Reply:....no.....
Reply:It doesn't even mean they're the same nationality. My surname, for example, can be Irish, Scottish, English, or even French.