Does the same last name mean you have the same ancestors?

Question: Does the same last name mean you have the same ancestors!?
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Europeans did not take surnames until the last millennium!. I believe France was the first!. Most people in England had one by the end of the 14th century!. They were based on a)being the son of someone b) their occupation c)where they lived d)some characteristic about them!.

When they got through, it wasn't impossible for legitimate sons of the same man to have a different surname!. Still they could have each shared their surname with others not in their family!. Now some will say we are all related if we go back for enough!. However, your root person of your surname will not necessarily be the same as the root person of someone else with your surname!.

In the Netherlands and countries surrounding, most people did not have a surname until the reign of Napoleon!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It only means you could!. You'll have to check it out!. Many people took the name of their master or Lord!. Many took a name that was the same as others took, but they were not close relatives!.

On the other hand, we are all related through one common original mother and father!. Did you know that 10 generations ago, about 300 years on average, you had over 1000 grandparents!? 20 generations ago it was over 1 Million!. 30 generations ago (a small portion of the world's history) you had over 100 million!. Doesn't take much time out of world history to see that we truly are all related, does it!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Not necessarily!.
My brother-in-laws last name is Johnson!.
He is not related to anyone with the last name of Johnson, except his 2 daughters!.
His grandfather immigrated to Ellis Island in 1908, from Finland, and did not speak English!.
His last name was too difficult to pronounce, so the person checking his papers gave him the name Johnson, because Grampa's papers stated that his fathers first name was Johannes!.
Guess it was a good thing he didn't chose the first name of Grampa's mother!. Margretha just doesn't sound like a good last name, to me!.

The only way to know if you are related to someone with the same surname as you, is to trace your family tree and theirs!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Not necessarily!. When European immigrants came to America in the 1800s, they would often have their names changed simply because the people checking their paperwork didn't know how to spell their surnames!. also, in old England one's surname was often based on their profession or something similar!. i!.e!.: If you were a baker, your last name would be Baker, or if a man's father was named John, he would be called Johnson, and so on!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It might be true BUT if you have the name of Smith, Jones, etc!., probably not true!. In my case my last name is the same as about 1400 family's in the U S!. However, our forefather 9 generations ago was one in the same!.

You will need to do some genealogical research!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No not at all!. My husband and I both have two names the same in our families, but I have gone way back to check it out, there is no connection what so ever!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I don't think so because I thought the family name was unique until I found the same name in other Euro peon countries with no link that they are relatedWww@QuestionHome@Com

Not necessarily but the chances are better if you do have the same sir name!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There are things like marriage and adoption that makes this untrue!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

no there is not Www@QuestionHome@Com