Who invented last names?

Last names, or surnames, were developed independently in various cultures around the world. In Europe, they began to emerge during the Middle Ages for identification purposes, often based on a person's occupation, location, or physical characteristics. The practice became more standardized in the 11th and 12th centuries, particularly in France and England. Meanwhile, other cultures, such as those in China and Japan, have their own distinct traditions regarding surnames that date back thousands of years.