History Main / SameSurnameMeansRelated

* Played with in Reboot ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperheroes''. Laurel Gand/Andromeda is a Daxamite who claims descent from the legendary Daxamite hero (and galactic religious icon) [[Comicbook/{{Valor}} Lar Gand/Valor]]. Brainiac 5 points out that "Gand" is a very common surname on Daxam, and she retorts "I know what I know."

Of course, as in real life, having the same surname does not always signify the two characters being related. ValuesDissonance may apply since surname frequency varies worldwide due to cultural or historical factors.[[note]]This trope is more justified in the Anglosphere, where even the most common surname (Smith) only comprises 0.8% of the population. About 7% of mainland China has the surname Wang, 10% of Hong Kong is Chan/Chen, 20% of South Korea is Kim, and nearly 40% of Vietnam is Nguyen. Watching {{Korean Drama}}s, for example, can be somewhat confusing; it seems as though half of the cast share a surname even if they are not related, as that's how things are in real life. Surnames tend to go extinct under the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galton%E2%80%93Watson_process Galton–Watson process]]. Chinese surnames have been in use for so long, they gradually died out and leaving fewer surnames behind, despite the massive Chinese population. On the other hand, Japanese and Thai surnames are relatively recently invented, so there is a much greater variety of surnames. Vietnamese surnames are an exception as people adopted Nguyen for various reasons and not necessarily from the natural extinction of other surnames. Furthermore, there are cultures that does not even use surnames as is understood in the Anglosphere, like having last names that are patronymics: [[{{Music/Bjork}} Guðmundsdóttir]] indicates "daughter of Guðmundur", not a surname shared by the father.[[/note]]

Of course, as in real life, having the same surname does not always signify the two characters being related. ValuesDissonance may apply since surname frequency varies worldwide due to cultural or historical factors.[[note]]This trope is more justified in the Anglosphere, where even the most common surname (Smith) only comprises 0.8% of the population. About 7% of mainland China has the surname Wang, 10% of Hong Kong is Chan/Chen, 20% of South Korea is Kim, and nearly 40% of Vietnam is Nguyen. Watching {{Korean Drama}}s, for example, can be somewhat confusing; it seems as though half of the cast share a surname even if they are not related, as that's how things are in real life. Surnames tend to go extinct under the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galton%E2%80%93Watson_process Galton–Watson process]]. Chinese surnames have been in use for so long, they gradually died out and leaving fewer surnames behind, despite the massive Chinese population. On the other hand, Japanese and Thai surnames are relatively recently invented, so there is a much greater variety of surnames. Vietnamese surnames are an exception as people adopted Nguyen for various reasons and not necessarily from the natural extinction of other surnames.[[/note]]Sometimes it's an intentional joke (for example, [[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures Buster and Babs Bunny]]). In the case of large casts, it could have been an honest mistake because the writer was not paying attention too closely. Or maybe they were just really lazy. These instances are not aversions of the trope unless someone directly points it out and is immediately told it cannot possibly be for in-story reasons.

Of course, as in real life, having the same surname does not always signify the two characters being related. This is especially true in countries where the number of surnames is limited, like Korea and Vietnam. Watching {{Korean Drama}}s, for example, can be somewhat confusing; it seems as though half of the cast share a surname even if they are not related, as that's how things are in real life. Sometimes it's an intentional joke (for example, [[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures Buster and Babs Bunny]]). In the case of large casts, it could have been an honest mistake because the writer was not paying attention too closely. Or maybe they were just really lazy. These instances are not aversions of the trope unless someone directly points it out and is immediately told it cannot possibly be for in-story reasons.

** On the other hand, in "[[Recap/FuturamaS3E10LuckOfTheFryish Luck of the Fryish]]", "Philip J. Fry" is apparently a famous historical figure by the year 3000, but for some reason, it never occurs to anyone that he might be related to Philip J. Fry, the show's FishOutOfTemporalWater protagonist. [[spoiler:As it turns out, the famous one isn't Fry's brother, who changed his name, but [[DeadGuyJunior Fry's nephew]].]]

Of course, as in real life, having the same surname does not always signify the two characters being related. This is especially true in countries where the number of surnames is limited, like Korea and Vietnam. Watching {{Korean Drama}}s, for example, can be somewhat confusing; it seems as though half of the cast share a surname even if they are not related, as that's how things are in real life. Sometimes it's an intentional joke (for example, [[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures Buster and Babs Bunny]]). In the case of LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, it could have been an honest mistake because the writer was not paying attention too closely. Or maybe they were just really lazy. These instances are not aversions of the trope unless someone directly points it out and is immediately told it cannot possibly be for in-story reasons.

** The series has LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, and surnames sometimes repeat without any indication or denial of a relationship: for example, [[https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Jones_family four "Joneses"]] who are never mentioned together. Though we have WordOfGod that the Goldstein sisters from ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' are distantly related to minor Ravenclaw character Anthony Goldstein.

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice,'' Black Lightning's ex-wife, Lynn, is apparently the sister of Comicbook/GreenLantern John Stewart. (Apparently, her creator intended to reveal this eventually in the comics, but it never wound up happening.)
** In a variant: in the comics, Halo's name is Violet Harper, but has no connection to ''Comicbook/GreenArrow'' character Roy Harper. Here, "Violet Harper" is a pseudonym, and he offered up his last name for her to use.

* Averted in ''Manga/UQHolder''. Isana and Honoka Konoe briefly wonder if they're related to Touta upon seeing his last name (and take to calling him onii-sama), but there's nothing to suggest that there's any connection (especially because [[spoiler:he's a hybrid clone of Negi and Asuna]]). [[spoiler:That said, it later turns out that they are related in a roundabout way due to the woman who gave birth to him as a surrogate also being a descendant of their grandmother Konoka (though the direct relation is not specified).]]

* Discussed in ''VideoGame/Persona5'' when the Thieves are given the task of tracking down a girl named "Futaba Sakura". They realize that it’s a relatively common last name, but even though it seems like a long shot their only starting point is Sojiro Sakura, [[PlayerCharacter Joker’s]] temporary guardian for his parol period. [[ContrivedCoincidence Luckily,]] that ends up being exactly who they needed to talk to: [[spoiler:He was Futaba's [[HappilyAdopted adoptive]] father.]]

* When Creator/JossWhedon was writing ''Comicbook/X-Men,'' he wanted to include a joke implying that [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer a certain character of his]] was part of the [[TangledFamilyTree already quite tangled]] Summers family.

** There is an infamous {{Aversion}}: the [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix fifth book]] briefly mentions a character named Mark Evans living in Harry's {{Muggle}} neighborhood, and later reveals that "Evans" was also his mother's maiden name. Fans were abuzz about this significance of this, only for WordOfGod to eventually admit that this wasn't even a RedHerring, she's just picked the same fairly-common surname twice without thinking.

** Most of the fanbase speculate that Hepzibah and Zacharias Smith are related. Although "Smith" is a ridiculously common surname, the two share a theme of uncommon Biblical names, and both are related to Hufflepuff (Zacharias is a Hufflepuff student, while Hepzibah claimed descent from Helga Hufflepuff and once owned her trophy).

** Both being spies Tara King from ''Series/TheAvengers'' is now the sister of ''Series/JasonKing''.

* Deliberately averted in ''Franchise/StarWars'', where George Lucas intended for Antilles to be the galaxy's version of a common, generic last name like Smith. ''Film/ANewHope'' has both Captain Antilles (of the Rebel blockade runner from the opening scene) and Wedge Antilles (the EnsembleDarkhorse Rebel pilot). ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' also mentions Senator Bail Antilles. None of them are related.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter''

* Discussed in ''VideoGame/Persona5'' when the Thieves are given the task of tracking down a girl named "Futaba Sakura". They realize that it’s a relatively common last name, but even though it seems like a long shot their only starting point is Sojiro Sakura, [[PlayerCharacter Joker’s]] temporary guardian for his parol period. [[ContrivedCoincidence Luckily,]] that ends up being exactly who they needed to talk to: [[spoiler:He was Futaba’s [[HappilyAdopted adoptive]] father.]]

* ''Webcomic/TheHeroOfThreeFaces''

** Amy Wong introduces herself in "The Series Has Landed". Leela immediately, and correctly, guesses that she's from the super-rich "Mars Wongs," despite that being a common surname and [[AffluentAscetic nothing about Amy's appearance indicating how well-off she is]].
** On the other hand, "Philip J. Fry" is apparently a famous historical figure by the year 3000, but for some reason, it never occurs to anyone that he might be related to Philip J. Fry, the show's FishOutOfTemporalWater protagonist. [[spoiler:As it turns out, the famous one isn't Fry's brother, who changed his name, but [[DeadGuyJunior Fry's nephew]].]]

** The episode "All the Presidents' Heads" revolves around Professor Farnsworth being a descendent of David Farnsworth, a RealLife Loyalist double agent and counterfeiter during the Revolutionary War. Other historical Farnsworths said to be in his family tree include inventor Philo Farnsworth and naval commander Dean Farnsworth, developer of the Farnsworth Lantern Test.

* In the ''Series/{{Blackadder}} II'' episode [[Recap/BlackadderS2E2Head "Head"]] Ploppy is the jailer and Mrs. Ploppy is the woman who cooks [[LastRequest Last Meals]]. They're unrelated.

In works of fiction characters will ([[NoNameGiven most]] [[YouAreNumberSix likely]]) have names. Most authors will go out of their way to avoid giving two characters [[OneSteveLimit the same first name]] in order to avoid confusing the audience, unless it's [[LawOfConservationOfDetail intentional]] for the sake of [[PlanetOfSteves some kind of joke]]. For the same reason, it's extremely likely that they will only give two or more characters the same surname only if they are related.

** There is an infamous {{Aversion}}: the [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix fifth book]] briefly mentions a character named Mark Evans (no, not that [[VideoGame/InazumaEleven Mark Evans]]) living in Harry's {{Muggle}} neighborhood, and later reveals that "Evans" was also his mother's maiden name. Fans were abuzz about this significance of this, only for WordOfGod to eventually admit that this wasn't even a RedHerring, she's just picked the same fairly-common surname twice without thinking.

* Discussed in ''Webcomic/YumisCell''. When Yumi meets her boyfriend Babi's cute new employee, Da Eun, she tries to convince herself that nothing would happen between the two since they share the same surname, and are therefore related and can't romance each other. [[spoiler:However, her fears do eventually come true, as Babi does briefly fall for Da Eun, and after Yumi broke up with him for the second time, he ends up married with her.]]

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E4Rosebud Rosebud]]", a {{flashback}} shows that comedian George Burns is Mr. Burns' younger brother. (In actuality, "George Burns" was a stage name he adopted as an adult.)

Either way, this will make LastNameBasis awkward. A variant of OneSteveLimit. Contrast PlanetOfSteves.

* Creator/QuentinTarantino has said in interviews that some of his characters with the same surnames are related to eachother;

Of course, as in real life, having the same surname does not always signify the two characters being related. This is especially true in countries where the number of surnames is limited, like Korea and Vietnam. Watching {{Korean Drama}}s, for example, can be somewhat confusing; it seems as though half of the cast have the surname even if they are not related, as that's how things are in real life. Sometimes it's an intentional joke (for example, [[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures Buster and Babs Bunny]]). In the case of LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, it could have been an honest mistake because the writer was not paying attention too closely. Or maybe they were just really lazy. These instances are not aversions of the trope unless someone directly points it out and is immediately told it cannot possibly be for in-story reasons.

Of course, as in real life, having the same surname does not always signify the two characters being related. This is especially true in countries where the number of surnames are limited, like Korea and Vietnam. Watching KoreanDrama, for example, can be somewhat confusing; it seems as though half of the cast have the surname even if they are not related, as that's how things are in real life. Sometimes it's an intentional joke (for example, [[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures Buster and Babs Bunny]]). In the case of LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, it could have been an honest mistake because the writer was not paying attention too closely. Or maybe they were just really lazy. These instances are not aversions of the trope unless someone directly points it out and is immediately told it cannot possibly be for in-story reasons.

Of course, as in real life, having the same surname does not always signify the two characters being related. Sometimes it's an intentional joke (for example, [[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures Buster and Babs Bunny]]). In the case of LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, it could have been an honest mistake because the writer was not paying attention too closely. Or maybe they were just really lazy. These instances are not aversions of the trope unless someone directly points it out and is immediately told it cannot possibly be for in-story reasons.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' has an infamous {{Aversion}}: the [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix fifth book]] briefly mentions a character named Mark Evans (no, not that [[VideoGame/InazumaEleven Mark Evans]]) living in Harry's {{Muggle}} neighborhood, and later reveals that "Evans" was also his mother's maiden name. Fans were abuzz about this significance of this, only for WordOfGod to eventually admit that this wasn't even a RedHerring, she's just picked the same fairly-common surname twice without thinking.

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E4Rosebud Rosebud]]", a {{flashback}} shows that comedian George Burns is Mr. Burns' younger brother.

* In ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' (more specifically the prequel story "Alan and the Sundered Veil"), it is revealed that [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Randolph Carter]] is a great-nephew of [[Literature/JohnCarterOfMars John Carter]].