Q & A: Did Jesus Have a Last Name?

Did Jesus have a last name? It's a good question considering that there is some confusion concerning this question. Some are under the misconception that Christ is the last name of Jesus. We will discuss that in more in just a moment. Let us briefly look at when the practice of last names first began. It is thought that around 2852 B.C. China had decreed family names. This practice was held in China at the time and did not spread from the country. At the height of the Roman government, the development of surnames came and went. The use of surnames in Europe was not common place until the 10th or 11th century. This “modern” usage of surnames began in Venice, Italy. It slowly spread across Europe, although in some areas (such as Scandinavia, this practice did not occur until the 19th century). The reason for the use of surnames was for practical reasons. For instance, what if in a town you had two men by the name of William. What is William is buying property? Is it William #1 or William #2? It is easy to see the need for a last name. Surnames usually came from one of four sources. The father’s name would give a surname. If someone was the Son of Richard, the last name could be “Richardson.” Location would sometimes give surname. Those who were of the “Church of St. Patrick” were given the name “Kirkpatrick.” Occupation often gave surnames. If someone had the last name of “Cooper,” they were more than likely a barrel maker. Nicknames gave surnames as well. If someone had red hair, they may have had the last name of Reid.

Some are under the misconception that “Christ” was the last name of Jesus. It is not a last name but instead is a title. If we were to take the Greek word for Christ, we would spell it “K-R-I-S-T-O-S.” It means “Anointed One.” It is synonymous with the Hebrew word for Messiah. “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ” (John 1:41). The term “Anointed One” was given to different classes of people during Old Testament times. Prophets, as in the case of Elisha, the son of Shaphat (1 Kings 19:16). Kings, as in the case of Jehu (1 Kings 19:16). David also referred to King Saul as the “Lord’s Anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6, 10). Priests were also anointed (Leviticus 4:5, 16). These people were anointed with oil. This symbolized that God had chosen them for their specific duties. These were all anointed but there is only one “Anointed One.” He would be the ultimate culmination of prophet, priest, and king. We know this was fulfilled of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 1:1-3).

The word “Christ” is used with the “birth name” of Jesus in different ways.

Jesus Christ: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).

Christ Jesus: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3).

Christ: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

Now, all of that was said to say this. Did Jesus Christ have a last name? No, the practice of having last names did not occur until centuries later. Christ is a title and not a name.