In ancient Greece, the concept of last names as we understand them today was not commonly practiced. Instead, individuals were typically identified by their first name along with a patronymic, which indicated their father’s name. For example, if a man’s name was ‘Alexandros,’ he might be referred to as ‘Alexandros son of Philippos.’ This method of identification helped to convey lineage and family connections, which were crucial for understanding social status and heritage in Greek society.
Additionally, people could be distinguished by their place of origin or occupation. For instance, someone might be known as ‘Alexandros from Corinth’ or ‘Alexandros the potter.’ Hence, while the ancient Greeks did not have last names in the modern sense, they employed various methods to indicate familial and geographical ties that functioned similarly in social contexts.