What to KnowNames are proper nouns, which become plurals the same way that other nouns do: add the letter

-sfor most names (“the Johnsons,” “the Websters”) or add-esif the name ends insorz(“the Joneses,” “the Martinezes”). To show possession using an apostrophe, add’sfor individuals (“Smith’s car”) and just the apostrophe after thesfor plurals (“the Smiths’ car,” “the Martinezes’ dog”). By convention, names from classical mythology and the Bible ending insshow possession with the apostrophe only (“Jesus’ teachings”).

The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns. They typically get formed by adding *-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


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 in an *s* or *z* sound, though, you can either add *-'s* or just an apostrophe. Going with *-'s* is the more common choice:

the car that belongs to Jones → Jones's car

orJones' car

## Special Rules for Classical Names

For classical and biblical names there are other rules. For names ending in *s* or *es* and having two or more syllables, you usually just add an apostrophe. If the name is only one syllable, add *-'s*.

Socrates' students

Ramses' kingdom

Amos' prophecy

Zeus's warnings


The names *Jesus* and *Moses* are always made possessive with the apostrophe alone:

Jesus' disciples

Moses' law


## Silent Ending Letters

The usual way to show possession with a name that ends in a silent *s*, *z*, or *x* is with *-'s*.

Didier Deschamps's career

Josquin des Prez's music

Eugène Delacroix's paintings