Quick question: are you required to have a last name? Many races in the elder scrolls universe do not typically have last names (Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, many Nords). I'm hoping they don't force this upon us. I figure the last name is an option, but I just want to make sure.

It's forced. Yes, it is against the lore, but they are doing because making people have a first and last name creates more unique names and you aren't fighting people for names.

There maybe an option to turn off last names, but we don't know that. I'm not against forced last names at all.