Why is it that people can have the same last name but not be related?

Question

Why is it that people can have the same last name but not be related?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Last names often developed from things like where they lived, what they did for a living, who their parent was… those aren’t unique factors. Many people were black/silversmiths and took the last name Smith. Many people had fathers names John and thus became Johnsons.