Using WordPress ‘get_the_author_lastname()’ PHP function

The get_the_author_lastname() WordPress PHP function retrieves the last name of the author of the current post.

Usage

$author_lastname = get_the_author_lastname();
echo "Author's last name: " . $author_lastname;

Parameters

This function has no parameters.

More information

See WordPress Developer Resources: get_the_author_lastname()

Examples

Displaying the author’s last name with the post title

This example will display the author’s last name along with the post title.

if ( have_posts() ) {
    while ( have_posts() ) {
        the_post();
        $author_lastname = get_the_author_lastname();
        echo "<h2>" . get_the_title() . " by " . $author_lastname . "</h2>";
    }
}

Adding author’s last name to the post meta

This example adds the author’s last name to the post meta section below the post title.

function add_author_lastname_to_meta() {
    $author_lastname = get_the_author_lastname();
    echo "Last name: " . $author_lastname;
}
add_action( 'genesis_entry_header', 'add_author_lastname_to_meta', 12 );

Displaying author’s last name in a custom author box

This example creates a custom author box that displays the author’s last name along with their bio.

function custom_author_box() {
    $author_lastname = get_the_author_lastname();
    $author_bio = get_the_author_meta( 'description' );
echo "<div class='author-box'>";
echo "<h3>Author: " . $author_lastname . "</h3>";
echo "<p>" . $author_bio . "</p>";
echo "</div>";
}
add_action( 'genesis_after_entry', 'custom_author_box' );

Displaying author’s last name in a custom widget

This example creates a custom widget that displays the author’s last name.

class Author_Last_Name_Widget extends WP_Widget {
    public function __construct() {
        parent::__construct(
            'author_last_name_widget',
            'Author Last Name Widget'
        );
    }
public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
    echo $args['before_widget'];
    echo $args['before_title'] . "Author's Last Name" . $args['after_title'];
    echo get_the_author_lastname();
    echo $args['after_widget'];
}
}
add_action( 'widgets_init', function() {
register_widget( 'Author_Last_Name_Widget' );
});