Hugh Laurie's character in House, M.D. has the surname House. His full name is Gregory House, and the character serves as the series' central diagnostician.
House is portrayed as exceptionally skilled at solving unusual medical cases, but he is also confrontational, sarcastic, and resistant to authority. His chronic leg pain and use of a cane are central parts of his characterization, as is his dependence on the pain medication Vicodin during much of the series.
The name “House” also creates a deliberate association with Sherlock Holmes. Both characters are analytical investigators who solve difficult cases, and the series includes several parallels in names, behavior, and relationship patterns. The medical setting transforms detective-style deduction into diagnosis.
Hugh Laurie, an English actor, played the American doctor throughout the series. The surname is therefore the character's name, not the actor's; Laurie is the performer's family name.