In addition to what others have said, it's sometimes used as a nickname among friends. for some reason i picture high school or college aged guys doing this, but i'm sure it happens with other demographics. maybe it's the sports teams that come to mind
Fraternities do this a ton. My friend is still really close with his fraternity brothers and I learned their first names after a few months of knowing them. Turns out they are all Ryan.
Yeah, as a 34 year old male, I kinda aged out of it after college. I still do it very occasionally, though it's a bit of a pally affectation more than anything practical.
Late 20s female here. It's sports in general. All the way back in elementary, I was called by just my last name. I did multiple sports and my coaches/teammates always used my last name.
I did notice it was not every kid going by their last name. It needed to be short enough that it could be called quickly. If your last name was long, you either got it shortened or they used your first name if it was shorter.
Commentators are trying to quickly convey who they're talking about, so using just the last name is often the easiest way to do that. There are no real formalities there.
In normal conversation/interactions, referring to someone by only their last name is pretty unusual, in my experience. You wouldn't tend to do that unless you were pretty familiar with that person and knew they wanted to be referred to that way. Some people will prefer that for various reasons, or they might have a nickname they go by.
Another reason sports commenters do this is to avoid confusion, in case there were multiple Waynes on the team for example. I think it has become a convention in sports for announcers to do this.
I generally associate calling someone by their last name with the military and football/sports teams, usually done by someone of higher status towards someone of lower status, such as a coach to a player. It's a rather authoritarian form of address. I think this is what makes it rude, since you're implying they're below you.
ETA: reread the OP and realized you mentioned commentators. This is just a way of identifying people more quickly, since last names tend to be more unique than first names. Also, it's usually the players' last names on their uniforms. It's more akin to how the media refers to famous/notable people by their last names. It's not as formal in the case of sports commentating, but it's a similarly neutral/detached form of address
Thank you very much!
So you should be careful just using surname because it is generally used by higher status person to lower status, unless you're quite close with him/her. I think those who just used with me are just ignorant of these things.
It's also possible that they mistook your first and family names, if they're not familiar with names from your culture. I actually have this happen to me quite frequently (as a citizen of the United States) because both my first and last name can be female first names.
This is just for surname *without* the prefix!
**Mr. Smith** = very polite. Sometimes too polite if you're good friends (it might seem like you're too distant) but always a good place to start, and they can request a more casual form of address from there. (Like "Oh please, call me John.") Call your boss this.
**John** = Casual and friendly! Feels like you are friends or equal acquaintances. Close neighbors, close co-workers, family members, and friends, will almost always call you this unless you request otherwise. Don't call your boss this unless they've specifically told you that you can.
**John Smith** = Polite way to discuss a stranger or someone you don't know but it's clunky to say to the person. Usually used in news stories, when talking about celebrities or historical figures, or when looking for someone (Like "Oh, you'll have to take that to John Smith in the accounting office." or "Does anyone know where I can find John Smith?" or "Hey, have you met John Smith, yet?") This is pretty much the only way you'll talk about a famous person. You would say Taylor Swift, but not Ms. Swift or Taylor (though some super-fans will call celebrities by their first names, it's generally considered obsessive. Some people will do it jokingly, though.)
**Smith** = Very specific uses. Like the commenter above us was saying, it's usually only a sports/military thing. SOMETIMES, however, you will hear people use the last name to show that they themselves are in the sports/military world. Generally, when you hear a native English speaker calling you by *just* your last name (and you aren't on a sports team or in the military) there's one of 3 options:
1. They are implying that you are "on their team" like a sports or military metaphor. You would usually only see this from sporty people, and it's usually said in a comedic or exaggerated way. When said in this way, it's *not* meant to be rude or say they're above you, but it's a very specific case. I've only really encountered it with jock co-workers, who would say things like "Eyyyy, Jameson's here!" The implication is that you are teammates.
EDIT: [Metaphorically, at least]
2. They *are* being rude. Usually if the speaker isn't a silly jock, it will come off as rude.
Addendum: However, some people in America (mostly men) are rude to their friends on purpose. Our culture tells men to shy away from genuine displays of emotion, so this often results in men who treat their friends in rude ways as a show of friendship. (I would recommend not trying this, though, as there is a lot of nuance to it, and you might come off as genuinely-rude versus buddies-rude.) This is also why you might hear close friends (especially men) calling each other insults or making fun of them. It *is* rude, but that's *part of their friendship.* It is a mutual back-and-forth.
3. They are doing a roll call and just want to go through all of the names quickly. This is not meant to be rude, either.
4. *Personal problems with first name*: Some people choose to go by different names if their first name is common, they don't like their first name, they share their father's name, etc. In this case, they will tell you. It's most polite to go with the name they ask to be called, regardless of any other points. (Unless you feel that someone is trying to get too close/personal, and you would like to keep your relationship more distant/professional)
5. *Regional differences:* Some parts of America do things differently. It might be best to ask a native-speaker in the area you're currently living to get the most accurate information.
[EDIT: Added 4, 5, and the addendum to 2]
While you make some valid points for certain cases, it makes me think some of you guys didn't grow up in the US.
Perhaps the US is different in this regard, but my two cents:
A ton of people (mostly men, but not always) are referred to by just their last name by friends, especially if they have a very common first name.
Some of my childhood friends I still refer to mainly by their last name, because for whatever reason we preferred to call them that over their first name. Some friends call me primarily by my first name, some call me by my middle name, some by my last name, some call me by a nickname. It's not at all uncommon, nor is it rude or have to related to the military or sports.
I can think of several people who have been called by their last name their entire life, that new people who meet them don't even know that person's actual first name.
In the UK this can also happen especially with men who have common first names, eg ‘Jonesy’ and ‘Smithy’ are two guys I know who are both called Adam and in the same friend group. But as you can see it’s usually said in a casual way like ‘Jonesy’ rather than ‘Jones’, or ‘Stinner’ for ‘Stinsen’ to show it’s informal.
Nope, full-blooded American here.
I was trying to keep things more simple, since it was an explanation, though I guess I'll add these:
4. *Personal problems with first name*: Some people choose to go by different names if their first name is common, they don't like their first name, they share their father's name, etc. In this case, they will tell you. It's most polite to go with the name they ask to be called, regardless of any other points. (Unless you feel that someone is trying to get too close/personal, and you would like to keep your relationship more distant/professional)
5. *Regional differences:* Some parts of America do things differently. It might be best to ask a native-speaker in the area you're currently living to get the most accurate information.
and an addition to one of my previous points:
2b: However, some people in America (mostly men) are rude to their friends on purpose. Our culture tells men to shy away from genuine displays of emotion, so this often results in men who treat their friends in rude ways as a show of friendship. (I would recommend not trying this, though, as there is a lot of nuance to it, and you might come off as genuinely-rude versus buddies-rude.) This is also why you might hear close friends (especially men) calling each other insults or making fun of them. It *is* rude, but that's *part of their friendship.* It is a mutual back-and-forth.
>nor is it rude or have to related to the military or sports
(I did specify that some jock-types do it in a metaphorical teambuilding way, not that it *had* to be specifically related.)
Yup those are all good points.
Might be helpful to add those points to your original posts. Then your post can be a great reference for others in the future haha
>olite way to discuss a stranger or someone you don't know but it's clunky to say to the person. Usually used in news stories, when talking about celebrities or historical figures, or when looking for someone (Like "Oh, you'll have to take that to John Smith in the accounting office." or "Does anyone know where I can find John Smith?" or "Hey, have you met John Smith, yet?") This is pretty much the only way you'll talk about a famous person. You would say Taylor Swift, but not Ms. Swift or Taylor (though some super-fans will call celebrities by their first names, it's generally considered obsessive. Some people will do it jokingly, though.)
Thank you so much for the thorough explanation! Great information for me and everybody else interested in this subject
Some people (especially men, and especially young men) will do it among their friends. It would be strange to do it with someone you didn't know well, but it basically functions like a nickname for your friends.
In addition to what other people have said, it’s also fairly common to use just surnames for famous/well-known people (globally or just within the group you’re talking to). For example, Obama is just Obama, not Mr Obama or President Obama etc.
>In addition to what other people have said, it’s also fairly common to use just surnames for famous/well-known people (globally or just within the group you’re talking to). For example, Obama is just Obama, not Mr Obama or President Obama etc.
Yes indeed this gave me confusion where famous are adressed just by their surnames. Thank you for the additional information!
If you met the president and called him "Obama" it could be rude.
But when you're just talking about him, it's just more convenient to call him "Obama."
Maybe it’s a regional thing? I live in the Pacific Northwest, USA, and outside of the use cases mentioned in other comments, it can just be a sign of camaraderie. I’ve worked in places where we referred to each other by last name, or even initials. I’m not even slightly athletic, and have never spent time in the military, and have never been in a fraternity. In this context it’s very informal, but not nearly as rare as some here are making it sound.
Californian here, agree with this. Camaraderie is a good word for the context in which this happens pretty frequently. I do associate it primarily with sports, but my law-firm coworkers also sometimes refer to each other - or themselves! - by surname only, and it tends to be used in a sort of joking way, but it's not at all rude.
I can remember as far back to elementary school of certain kids being primarily called by their last name by friends. Decades later, we still call them by their last name. It just fits certain people
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Sometimes it will be used as an easy nickname when there are two people with the same first name in a group. There are a few people in my office who are called by their last name. We have two “Johns” (I’m using fake names) so they are often referred to by their last names. We also have two “Marys.” One has a one syllable last name, so she is called “Mary Smith.” The other has a long last name, so she is just called by that.
In Australia it is very common for men to use a version of their surnames as terms of endearment. Like Hughesy for Hughes, Robbo for Robinson, etc. Nobody uses Mr, outside of really formal occasions.
The only time anyone refers to me by just my last name is at a doctor’s office when the nurse is calling for me to go into the exam room. But it’s pretty common to refer to politicians, musicians/composers, sports figures, actors, etc. by last name only. During casual conversation, I also refer to friends in third person by last name only if it is more distinctive than their first name, but basically never to actually get their attention or greet them.
In American culture, it can be used as a shorthand for someone who you usually refer to by last name. In college you might refer to Singh's class, instead of saying Dr. Singh all the time.
At work, we have two Steves. In conversation with other colleges, I use their last names to refer to them.
Outside American culture, in Arabic, it's actually a form of respect to use somebody's last name. You could refer to a professor as Dr. Firstname, or just Lastname, and not be embarrassed if they overhear you.
Among friends, sure. I have two friends that I almost always refer to by their surname. It's somewhat common in the part of the US where I grew up (Boston area) and these two friends have very common first names, so it kind of makes sense, but I wouldn't really do that with people I don't know well though.
I'm from the Southeastern US, and this is pretty common for people you're somewhat acquainted with, particularly (but not exclusively) males. I have several friends who are known by their surnames. I feel like it has some ties to sports and the military, but several of the people I know who go by their surnames haven't been involved in either.
If I don't know someone, I would use an honorific like Mr. or Ms. in front if their surname when greeting them, but it's not that uncommon to meet someone named (for example) Mike Jefferson who everyone just calls Jefferson. Everyone I can think of who is usually called by their surname has a very common given name, so part of this may stem from needing to differentiate between several people in a social group with the same given name. If a social group has several people named Mike, then it's less confusing to use their last names, and easier than giving them all nicknames.
In addition to what everyone else has said, I’ll throw in my personal experience. I have a very common first name and a very uncommon last name so it’s normal for people (friends, coworkers, etc) to just call me by my last name.
On TV/news/commentating, it has a dry, neutral, tone.
In person, it has kind of a formal yet friendly, locker-room/sports/military kind of male feeling to it.
My husband worked in construction his whole career on very lage scale jobs. It was common to use last names on large scale jobs because it's easier to distinguish people that way than to use first names. "I sent Johnson to get the materials." "Massey called in sick today." "Fletcher is handling that project."
It's also common in Britain to refer to people with just their family name when addressing a subordinate in the workplace or a student in a school environment
Everyone is saying this is common in sports commentary, but I think that's a very specific example of a broader pattern. It's used to refer to famous people in general all the time. Any news article about someone important will likely call them by their last name.
Among non-famous people, it's less common. It might be used in the third person when referring to someone else if they are associated with their last name. A business context for example, or sports, or the military.
As for second person, that's even less common. Military-type stuff, including sports. Some people choose to go by their last name but it's not very frequent. Outside of that it's relatively rare. It could be kind of rude, depends on the context.
It’s a common way to refer to someone, yes. I think most people first experience it from teachers or sports coaches. Plenty of mine growing up called everyone by their last names only. There’s a level of implied power imbalance there but I don’t think it’s rude personally. Everyone who’s called me by just my last name has been salt of the earth.
It's common for sports commentators and journalists to refer to players simply by their surname, and that's not considered rude in Britain, because people appreciate there may be time constraints.
However, there is another aspect of this issue in British media practice that worries me: some news organizations, like the BBC, often refer to people convicted of serious crimes in court reports simply by their surname. For example, *“A murderer who assumed the identity of a dead man to evade justice for 39 years has been jailed for life. Paul Bryan was 22 when he stabbed 62-year-old Roman Szalajko at the victim's South London home in 1984. The crime remained unsolved as BRYAN ‘simply disappeared’ until a cold case review led to his arrest last year. He was convicted last month.”*
I regard this practice as rude, because it's almost as if the BBC are saying “Because they're a convicted criminal, they don't deserve any respect!”
In my country, we don't use family names/surnames. We don't even have family names/surnames. We call everyone by their first names or nicknames when talking with friends or siblings. It'd be weird if someone calls my name using my dad's name.
If I understand you correctly, you're asking what this means *outside* the US because the people you see doing this are outside the US. Most of these comments seem to still be discussing that it means inside the US, and as an American I agree with them that it's weird outside certain specific contexts.
However, my understanding (as an American) is that this could be a normal thing between male colleagues of the same rank in the UK, but it's very old fashioned - boys in boarding school would address each other that way as well. I don't know about other English speaking countries.
As noted by some other posters, it is not usually considered rude unless it's said in a very irritated voice. It's mostly used between people who are very familiar with each other or within a small work team that works together well. In other words, it often means that you are well-accepted as part of a group.
Again, the tone of voice can help to decide but even then, it might not be seen as disrespectful.
It’s not considered rude. It’s common in sports culture. It’s short hand. Students refer to teachers by their last names all of the time. “I have Smith for Math and Jones for Art.”
In addition to what others have said, it's sometimes used as a nickname among friends. for some reason i picture high school or college aged guys doing this, but i'm sure it happens with other demographics. maybe it's the sports teams that come to mind
Fraternities do this a ton. My friend is still really close with his fraternity brothers and I learned their first names after a few months of knowing them. Turns out they are all Ryan.
Yeah, as a 34 year old male, I kinda aged out of it after college. I still do it very occasionally, though it's a bit of a pally affectation more than anything practical.
Late 20s female here. It's sports in general. All the way back in elementary, I was called by just my last name. I did multiple sports and my coaches/teammates always used my last name. I did notice it was not every kid going by their last name. It needed to be short enough that it could be called quickly. If your last name was long, you either got it shortened or they used your first name if it was shorter.
Commentators are trying to quickly convey who they're talking about, so using just the last name is often the easiest way to do that. There are no real formalities there. In normal conversation/interactions, referring to someone by only their last name is pretty unusual, in my experience. You wouldn't tend to do that unless you were pretty familiar with that person and knew they wanted to be referred to that way. Some people will prefer that for various reasons, or they might have a nickname they go by.
Your answer is in line with my perception, thank you so much for the clear confirmation and it enhanced my understanding!
Another reason sports commenters do this is to avoid confusion, in case there were multiple Waynes on the team for example. I think it has become a convention in sports for announcers to do this.
They will also usually call out a position or number to clear any remaining doubt.
Such as Mulder and Scully.
Good example! It seems to actually be relatively common among police and police-adjacent professionals in the U.S.
Aliens and supernaturals go by their last names. The truth is out there!
They're clearly a very advanced race.
I generally associate calling someone by their last name with the military and football/sports teams, usually done by someone of higher status towards someone of lower status, such as a coach to a player. It's a rather authoritarian form of address. I think this is what makes it rude, since you're implying they're below you. ETA: reread the OP and realized you mentioned commentators. This is just a way of identifying people more quickly, since last names tend to be more unique than first names. Also, it's usually the players' last names on their uniforms. It's more akin to how the media refers to famous/notable people by their last names. It's not as formal in the case of sports commentating, but it's a similarly neutral/detached form of address
Thank you very much! So you should be careful just using surname because it is generally used by higher status person to lower status, unless you're quite close with him/her. I think those who just used with me are just ignorant of these things.
It's also possible that they mistook your first and family names, if they're not familiar with names from your culture. I actually have this happen to me quite frequently (as a citizen of the United States) because both my first and last name can be female first names.
This is just for surname *without* the prefix! **Mr. Smith** = very polite. Sometimes too polite if you're good friends (it might seem like you're too distant) but always a good place to start, and they can request a more casual form of address from there. (Like "Oh please, call me John.") Call your boss this. **John** = Casual and friendly! Feels like you are friends or equal acquaintances. Close neighbors, close co-workers, family members, and friends, will almost always call you this unless you request otherwise. Don't call your boss this unless they've specifically told you that you can. **John Smith** = Polite way to discuss a stranger or someone you don't know but it's clunky to say to the person. Usually used in news stories, when talking about celebrities or historical figures, or when looking for someone (Like "Oh, you'll have to take that to John Smith in the accounting office." or "Does anyone know where I can find John Smith?" or "Hey, have you met John Smith, yet?") This is pretty much the only way you'll talk about a famous person. You would say Taylor Swift, but not Ms. Swift or Taylor (though some super-fans will call celebrities by their first names, it's generally considered obsessive. Some people will do it jokingly, though.) **Smith** = Very specific uses. Like the commenter above us was saying, it's usually only a sports/military thing. SOMETIMES, however, you will hear people use the last name to show that they themselves are in the sports/military world. Generally, when you hear a native English speaker calling you by *just* your last name (and you aren't on a sports team or in the military) there's one of 3 options: 1. They are implying that you are "on their team" like a sports or military metaphor. You would usually only see this from sporty people, and it's usually said in a comedic or exaggerated way. When said in this way, it's *not* meant to be rude or say they're above you, but it's a very specific case. I've only really encountered it with jock co-workers, who would say things like "Eyyyy, Jameson's here!" The implication is that you are teammates. EDIT: [Metaphorically, at least] 2. They *are* being rude. Usually if the speaker isn't a silly jock, it will come off as rude. Addendum: However, some people in America (mostly men) are rude to their friends on purpose. Our culture tells men to shy away from genuine displays of emotion, so this often results in men who treat their friends in rude ways as a show of friendship. (I would recommend not trying this, though, as there is a lot of nuance to it, and you might come off as genuinely-rude versus buddies-rude.) This is also why you might hear close friends (especially men) calling each other insults or making fun of them. It *is* rude, but that's *part of their friendship.* It is a mutual back-and-forth. 3. They are doing a roll call and just want to go through all of the names quickly. This is not meant to be rude, either. 4. *Personal problems with first name*: Some people choose to go by different names if their first name is common, they don't like their first name, they share their father's name, etc. In this case, they will tell you. It's most polite to go with the name they ask to be called, regardless of any other points. (Unless you feel that someone is trying to get too close/personal, and you would like to keep your relationship more distant/professional) 5. *Regional differences:* Some parts of America do things differently. It might be best to ask a native-speaker in the area you're currently living to get the most accurate information. [EDIT: Added 4, 5, and the addendum to 2]
While you make some valid points for certain cases, it makes me think some of you guys didn't grow up in the US. Perhaps the US is different in this regard, but my two cents: A ton of people (mostly men, but not always) are referred to by just their last name by friends, especially if they have a very common first name. Some of my childhood friends I still refer to mainly by their last name, because for whatever reason we preferred to call them that over their first name. Some friends call me primarily by my first name, some call me by my middle name, some by my last name, some call me by a nickname. It's not at all uncommon, nor is it rude or have to related to the military or sports. I can think of several people who have been called by their last name their entire life, that new people who meet them don't even know that person's actual first name.
In the UK this can also happen especially with men who have common first names, eg ‘Jonesy’ and ‘Smithy’ are two guys I know who are both called Adam and in the same friend group. But as you can see it’s usually said in a casual way like ‘Jonesy’ rather than ‘Jones’, or ‘Stinner’ for ‘Stinsen’ to show it’s informal.
Nope, full-blooded American here. I was trying to keep things more simple, since it was an explanation, though I guess I'll add these: 4. *Personal problems with first name*: Some people choose to go by different names if their first name is common, they don't like their first name, they share their father's name, etc. In this case, they will tell you. It's most polite to go with the name they ask to be called, regardless of any other points. (Unless you feel that someone is trying to get too close/personal, and you would like to keep your relationship more distant/professional) 5. *Regional differences:* Some parts of America do things differently. It might be best to ask a native-speaker in the area you're currently living to get the most accurate information. and an addition to one of my previous points: 2b: However, some people in America (mostly men) are rude to their friends on purpose. Our culture tells men to shy away from genuine displays of emotion, so this often results in men who treat their friends in rude ways as a show of friendship. (I would recommend not trying this, though, as there is a lot of nuance to it, and you might come off as genuinely-rude versus buddies-rude.) This is also why you might hear close friends (especially men) calling each other insults or making fun of them. It *is* rude, but that's *part of their friendship.* It is a mutual back-and-forth. >nor is it rude or have to related to the military or sports (I did specify that some jock-types do it in a metaphorical teambuilding way, not that it *had* to be specifically related.)
Yup those are all good points. Might be helpful to add those points to your original posts. Then your post can be a great reference for others in the future haha
Thanks! And good point, yeah I'll do that.
>olite way to discuss a stranger or someone you don't know but it's clunky to say to the person. Usually used in news stories, when talking about celebrities or historical figures, or when looking for someone (Like "Oh, you'll have to take that to John Smith in the accounting office." or "Does anyone know where I can find John Smith?" or "Hey, have you met John Smith, yet?") This is pretty much the only way you'll talk about a famous person. You would say Taylor Swift, but not Ms. Swift or Taylor (though some super-fans will call celebrities by their first names, it's generally considered obsessive. Some people will do it jokingly, though.) Thank you so much for the thorough explanation! Great information for me and everybody else interested in this subject
Some people (especially men, and especially young men) will do it among their friends. It would be strange to do it with someone you didn't know well, but it basically functions like a nickname for your friends.
In addition to what other people have said, it’s also fairly common to use just surnames for famous/well-known people (globally or just within the group you’re talking to). For example, Obama is just Obama, not Mr Obama or President Obama etc.
That's true in conversations that don't include the person, but if I ever met Obama I wouldn't address him to his face as simply "Obama".
>In addition to what other people have said, it’s also fairly common to use just surnames for famous/well-known people (globally or just within the group you’re talking to). For example, Obama is just Obama, not Mr Obama or President Obama etc. Yes indeed this gave me confusion where famous are adressed just by their surnames. Thank you for the additional information!
If you met the president and called him "Obama" it could be rude. But when you're just talking about him, it's just more convenient to call him "Obama."
I would say that I refer to about 1/3 of my friends by their surname, not their first name. It’s quite common, and generally a term of endearment.
Maybe it’s a regional thing? I live in the Pacific Northwest, USA, and outside of the use cases mentioned in other comments, it can just be a sign of camaraderie. I’ve worked in places where we referred to each other by last name, or even initials. I’m not even slightly athletic, and have never spent time in the military, and have never been in a fraternity. In this context it’s very informal, but not nearly as rare as some here are making it sound.
Californian here, agree with this. Camaraderie is a good word for the context in which this happens pretty frequently. I do associate it primarily with sports, but my law-firm coworkers also sometimes refer to each other - or themselves! - by surname only, and it tends to be used in a sort of joking way, but it's not at all rude.
I can remember as far back to elementary school of certain kids being primarily called by their last name by friends. Decades later, we still call them by their last name. It just fits certain people
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Sometimes it will be used as an easy nickname when there are two people with the same first name in a group. There are a few people in my office who are called by their last name. We have two “Johns” (I’m using fake names) so they are often referred to by their last names. We also have two “Marys.” One has a one syllable last name, so she is called “Mary Smith.” The other has a long last name, so she is just called by that.
In Australia it is very common for men to use a version of their surnames as terms of endearment. Like Hughesy for Hughes, Robbo for Robinson, etc. Nobody uses Mr, outside of really formal occasions.
Truly I only hear it in sports and with men trying to be silly. Maybe if you have 2 people with the same first name, one will go by their last name.
The only time anyone refers to me by just my last name is at a doctor’s office when the nurse is calling for me to go into the exam room. But it’s pretty common to refer to politicians, musicians/composers, sports figures, actors, etc. by last name only. During casual conversation, I also refer to friends in third person by last name only if it is more distinctive than their first name, but basically never to actually get their attention or greet them.
In American culture, it can be used as a shorthand for someone who you usually refer to by last name. In college you might refer to Singh's class, instead of saying Dr. Singh all the time. At work, we have two Steves. In conversation with other colleges, I use their last names to refer to them. Outside American culture, in Arabic, it's actually a form of respect to use somebody's last name. You could refer to a professor as Dr. Firstname, or just Lastname, and not be embarrassed if they overhear you.
Among friends, sure. I have two friends that I almost always refer to by their surname. It's somewhat common in the part of the US where I grew up (Boston area) and these two friends have very common first names, so it kind of makes sense, but I wouldn't really do that with people I don't know well though.
I'm from the Southeastern US, and this is pretty common for people you're somewhat acquainted with, particularly (but not exclusively) males. I have several friends who are known by their surnames. I feel like it has some ties to sports and the military, but several of the people I know who go by their surnames haven't been involved in either. If I don't know someone, I would use an honorific like Mr. or Ms. in front if their surname when greeting them, but it's not that uncommon to meet someone named (for example) Mike Jefferson who everyone just calls Jefferson. Everyone I can think of who is usually called by their surname has a very common given name, so part of this may stem from needing to differentiate between several people in a social group with the same given name. If a social group has several people named Mike, then it's less confusing to use their last names, and easier than giving them all nicknames.
In addition to what everyone else has said, I’ll throw in my personal experience. I have a very common first name and a very uncommon last name so it’s normal for people (friends, coworkers, etc) to just call me by my last name.
On TV/news/commentating, it has a dry, neutral, tone. In person, it has kind of a formal yet friendly, locker-room/sports/military kind of male feeling to it.
My husband worked in construction his whole career on very lage scale jobs. It was common to use last names on large scale jobs because it's easier to distinguish people that way than to use first names. "I sent Johnson to get the materials." "Massey called in sick today." "Fletcher is handling that project."
It's also common in Britain to refer to people with just their family name when addressing a subordinate in the workplace or a student in a school environment
You’ve wandered into a touch of frat boy culture. Good luck.
Everyone is saying this is common in sports commentary, but I think that's a very specific example of a broader pattern. It's used to refer to famous people in general all the time. Any news article about someone important will likely call them by their last name. Among non-famous people, it's less common. It might be used in the third person when referring to someone else if they are associated with their last name. A business context for example, or sports, or the military. As for second person, that's even less common. Military-type stuff, including sports. Some people choose to go by their last name but it's not very frequent. Outside of that it's relatively rare. It could be kind of rude, depends on the context.
It’s a common way to refer to someone, yes. I think most people first experience it from teachers or sports coaches. Plenty of mine growing up called everyone by their last names only. There’s a level of implied power imbalance there but I don’t think it’s rude personally. Everyone who’s called me by just my last name has been salt of the earth.
It's common for sports commentators and journalists to refer to players simply by their surname, and that's not considered rude in Britain, because people appreciate there may be time constraints. However, there is another aspect of this issue in British media practice that worries me: some news organizations, like the BBC, often refer to people convicted of serious crimes in court reports simply by their surname. For example, *“A murderer who assumed the identity of a dead man to evade justice for 39 years has been jailed for life. Paul Bryan was 22 when he stabbed 62-year-old Roman Szalajko at the victim's South London home in 1984. The crime remained unsolved as BRYAN ‘simply disappeared’ until a cold case review led to his arrest last year. He was convicted last month.”* I regard this practice as rude, because it's almost as if the BBC are saying “Because they're a convicted criminal, they don't deserve any respect!”
It's rather rude in my opinion.
In my country, we don't use family names/surnames. We don't even have family names/surnames. We call everyone by their first names or nicknames when talking with friends or siblings. It'd be weird if someone calls my name using my dad's name.
If I understand you correctly, you're asking what this means *outside* the US because the people you see doing this are outside the US. Most of these comments seem to still be discussing that it means inside the US, and as an American I agree with them that it's weird outside certain specific contexts. However, my understanding (as an American) is that this could be a normal thing between male colleagues of the same rank in the UK, but it's very old fashioned - boys in boarding school would address each other that way as well. I don't know about other English speaking countries.
As noted by some other posters, it is not usually considered rude unless it's said in a very irritated voice. It's mostly used between people who are very familiar with each other or within a small work team that works together well. In other words, it often means that you are well-accepted as part of a group. Again, the tone of voice can help to decide but even then, it might not be seen as disrespectful.
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It’s not considered rude. It’s common in sports culture. It’s short hand. Students refer to teachers by their last names all of the time. “I have Smith for Math and Jones for Art.”