sql server - How to select info from the latest record from a table? -

i have table 1 like:

first name     last name      birthyear       modifieddate john           doe            1990            2/25/2011 john           doe            1995            3/2/2011 

where latest record (ie row birthyear 1995) contains recent accurate information.

i insert 'correct' latest birthyear table.

the original query wrote was: `

update table2 set birthyear = table1.birthyear table 1 join table 2 on table1.first_name = table2.first_name , table1.last_name = table2.last_name 

but inserts birthyear (1990) first record.

how modify query inserts correct "most recent" info?

with cross apply:

update t2 set birthyear = ca.birthyear table2 t2 cross apply(select top 1 birthyear             table1 t1             t1.firstname = t2.firstname ,                    t1.lastname = t2.lastname              order t1.modifieddate desc) ca