Before you slip that letter into the mail, find out how to properly write plural last names. Here, etiquette and grammar experts explain.
How to Write a Plural Last Name—Including One Ending in “S”
Updated on Jul. 31, 2024
If you were to send my family a letter, you’d have no problem writing out the envelope. My surname is Andersen, so the etiquette rules for writing a plural last name are pretty simple: Just add s! But this doesn’t work for a lot of names, so it can get confusing fast.
“Pluralizing is nearly foolproof in speech; it just gets tricky in writing,” says Lisa McLendon, PhD, the author of The Perfect English Grammar Workbook and a professor of journalism and mass communications at the University of Kansas. “No one gets ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ wrong when speaking, but have them write it, and you get a range of attempts, such as Jones, Jones’s, Joneses and Jones.’” The biggest problem, she says, is that people are unsure about how to use apostrophes because apostrophes are so often used incorrectly.
But it’s worth taking the time to do it right, says Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life. “Spelling someone’s name correctly, and that includes plurals, is a way to show respect and care,” she says, “especially when you’re writing it out on birthday cards, wedding invitations, RSVPs, thank-you cards or sympathy cards.”
Don’t worry, you don’t need a degree in English to get it right. (McLendon has that and more covered!) Read on to learn a few simple grammar rules that will help you easily write a plural last name.
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How to pluralize most names
Most of the time, writing a plural last name is easy: When you want to address an entire family of people with the same last name, simply add an s to the end.
Examples:
- Anderson → Andersons
- Smith → Smiths
- Garcia → Garcias
- Gupta → Guptas
- Romano → Romanos
- Nguyen → Nguyens
There are exceptions, though. If you’re addressing cards to people whose last names end in ch, s, sh, z or x, keep reading for tips on how to pluralize them.
If the last name ends in ch, s, sh or z
Sending warm wishes to the March, Walsh, Davis and Gonzalez families? These are some of the names most commonly pluralized incorrectly. For instance, Gonzalez very often gets pluralized as Gonzalez’s, which is incorrect. The apostrophe indicates possession.
The right way? Pluralize names that end in z by adding an es at the end. Do the same when making a last name plural if it ends in s, ch or sh. So Mr. and Mrs. Claus become the Clauses.
Examples:
- March → Marches
- Jones → Joneses
- Walsh → Walshes
- Davis → Davises
- Gutierrez → Gutierrezes
- Gonzalez → Gonzalezes
If the last name ends in x
There are two possible ways to pluralize a surname ending in x, and to avoid a grammar mistake, you may need to say the name aloud. Pay attention to whether you can hear the x sound.
For last names ending in an x sound, add es. For last names ending with a silent x, add an s.
Examples:
- Beaux → Beauxs
- Cox → Coxes
If the last name ends in a y or i
When pluralizing common nouns that end in y, we drop the y and add ies. Likewise, for words ending in i, we add es. That’s how puppy becomes puppies and chili becomes chilies.
This isn’t true for proper nouns. You should never change the spelling of a name, even to make it plural. Instead, the pluralization of last names ending in y or i simply requires you to add an s at the end.
Examples:
- Murphy → Murphys
- Rosetti → Rosettis
- Zachary → Zacharys
- Godoy → Godoys
What about apostrophes?
Rules for using an apostrophe can be confusing! No doubt you’ve seen people create a plural last name by adding an apostrophe—like the Jones’ or the Paulson’s. This is incorrect.
“To make a simple plural, no apostrophe is needed: Muellers, Changs, Sanchezes,” McLendon says. “But lots of people put apostrophes there anyway, so other people think, Well, maybe that is correct even though I think I learned back in school that we don’t need an apostrophe there.”
Bottom line: Apostrophes are for showing ownership or possession, not for naming a group or writing a plural family name. In other words, if you’re referring to the Jones family, you’d address the card to the Joneses. If you’re talking about their house, you’d write “the Joneses’ house.”
Tips for writing plural last names
Sending well wishes is a lovely act of kindness so treat it with the care it deserves—this isn’t just one more to-do to check off your list. With that in mind, our experts shared a few more tips to keep in mind when writing your cards:
- Stick to their real name. Don’t shorten it, change the spelling or use a nickname (unless you’re already on a nickname basis). This is especially true when writing foreign-sounding names or names from a different language. Don’t try to change it to an “easier-to-pronounce” spelling or “English version.”
- Take the time to ensure the spelling is correct. It takes only a minute to double-check.
- Write clearly and stick to print. Cursive writing may look elegant, but many people don’t know how to read it, especially the younger generation, as it was dropped from most school curricula in 2010.
- Ask questions. Some people prefer to spell their names differently than the accepted norms, and that can extend to the way they pluralize it. If you’re unsure, just ask them how they prefer their name to be spelled.
What can you do if you’re still unsure how to write a plural last name? “A good solution is to use the last name and family: the Perez family, the Roberts family, etc.,” McLendon says.
About the experts
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece on how to write a plural last name, Charlotte Hilton Anderson tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who specializes in etiquette and communication for Reader’s Digest, then she interviewed a grammar expert and an etiquette expert to ensure all information was correct. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions, as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Diane Gottsman, etiquette expert, author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life and founder of the Protocol School of Texas; phone interview, Nov 13, 2023
- Lisa McLendon, PhD, author of The Perfect English Grammar Workbook and professor of journalism and mass communications at the University of Kansas; email interview, July 16, 2024
- Grammar Book: “Plural and Possessive Forms with Names Ending in y or i“
- Grammar Book: “Using Apostrophes with Last Names Ending in s, ch, or z“
