How to Make a Last Name Plural—Including Those Ending in 'S'

Should you sign the holiday card as "Love, the Claus's"? Or should it be "Clauses"? Or "Claus'?" Figuring out the correct plural form of a surname—even your own—can feel like an unexpected grammar test. And don’t even get started on possessive forms—they bring their own set of rules.

Don’t worry. Mastering the skill of pluralizing last names is something that stays with you forever. The great news is, once you get the hang of it, it’ll become second nature. Just follow these easy guidelines to sign your cards like a pro, as recommended by a grammar authority.

How to Form Plurals of Surnames

Step 1: Write the Full Last Name

A last name should always be written fully. Think of it this way: it's their name, so altering it isn’t an option, right? Always write someone's full last name, whether it's Williams or Garcia.

Step 2: Add an S to the End

For this step, simply add an 'S' at the end of the fully written last name. In most cases, all you need to do is append an S, even if the last letter is a 'y'.

Examples

Typically, you don't need an apostrophe when signing or addressing cards. (Apostrophes suggest ownership, which isn't the case here. You're just using the plural form of the name.)

Exceptions

There are a few exceptions where things can get a little tricky.

• If the name ends in s, z, ch, or sh, you must add es. That means the Davis family becomes the Davises, the French family becomes the Frenches, the Hernandez family becomes the Hernandezes, and the Glaves family becomes the Glaveses.
• If the name ends in x, add es—unless the x is silent. In that case, add an s. So the Felix family becomes the Felixes, and the Bordeaux family becomes the Bordeauxs.

How to Make a Pluralized Last Name Possessive

Whether you want to mention the Smith family's housewarming party in your next thank you note or send an email about the Davis family's dog, we've got you covered.

Step 1: Follow the Steps Above

As you did earlier, pluralize the last name using the examples we outlined.

Step 2: Add an Apostrophe

Take the pluralized version of the last name and simply add an apostrophe at the end.

Examples