No, depending on how popular the surname is and how they gained that family name, two persons with the same last name are not inherently connected. Look for heritage clues and familial points of origin using the surname, and then trace each back to a common ancestor or disprove the tie. For example, John Smith and John Doe both work at the Jones Company; there is no connection between them other than sharing the same last name. However, Susan Smith works at the Smith Company and her husband Rodney is a police officer; they have proven to be from a family who owns the Smith Company. Susan and Rodney's children also work at the company. There is a connection between all these people despite coming from different families with different last names. The ties go back many generations. Another example, Alice and Betty White both work at White Company; they are cousins. Both families shared an ancestor who had two daughters named Alice and Betty is some distant relative was very fond of flowers. They both worked at the company that carried their names because there were no other White businesses at the time. There is a connection between these women even though they don't know it yet! In conclusion, yes, two persons with the same last name can come from different families but they will always have some type of connection. Use evidence such as history, relationships, and context to connect these names with their respective families.