The husband's surname

[Estro Felino]

Well...as many of you know, in many countries women adopt the husband's surname as soon as they get married.
Isn't this tendency a bit...you know...anti-feminism?
A woman has already a surname. I don't understand why they should sign differently...or change their surname in their ID.
I am curious about the situation of your countries.
What happens when a woman gets married? Will she change her surname into the marital surname, in the registry office? She will have to change her own signature, as well?
Thank you in advance.

 

[ChristineM]

I changed my surname when married the main reason being hubbies surname is 6 letters shorter.

In the UK changing to the males surname is traditional but not compulsory, the wife may keep her surname or they can create a double surname condisting of both husband and wifes name.

In France the wife doesn't change surnames, she keeps their birth name but acquires the use of their spouse's name.

 

[Estro Felino]

I changed my surname when married the main reason being hubbies surname is 6 letters shorter.

In the UK changing to the males surname is traditional but not compulsory, the wife may keep her surname or they can create a double surname condisting of both husband and wifes name.

In France the wife doesn't change surnames, she keeps their birth name but acquires the use of their spouse's name.

How does it work?
Did you asked the registry office to change it?
Or did the registry office change it automatically, as soon as the marriage is registered?
Thank you in advance.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I had changed my surname to my 3rd wife's name when we married for a few reasons. First, I wanted to make the point that it wasn't only the woman that could take the man's surname, but it could be the man that takes the woman's. Second, the surname I had was an adopted name belonging to my abusive alcoholic step-father. Third, I was a working musician at the time and it was a much better stage name.

I've since change my name back to my birth name.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Well...as many of you know, in many countries women adopt the husband's surname as soon as they get married.
Isn't this tendency a bit...you know...anti-feminism?
A woman has already a surname. I don't understand why they should sign differently...or change their surname in their ID.
I am curious about the situation of your countries.
What happens when a woman gets married? Will she change her surname into the marital surname, in the registry office? She will have to change her own signature, as well?
Thank you in advance.

It's up to the woman. What is hard is figuring out the kids' name.

 

[ChristineM]

How does it work?
Did you asked the registry office to change it?
Or did the registry office change it automatically, as soon as the marriage is registered?
Thank you in advance.

They asked what names we wanted on the marriage certificate.

 

[Estro Felino]

I say how it works in my country.
Surname is something which the State consider immutable, juridically because it is the State that identifies its own citizen with a name and surname and a fiscal code (used also as NHS code).
Basically you are not allowed to change your surname, unless you provide the registry office with a very good justification.
For example: if your surname is considered a vulgar word, a swear word, or a word that evokes (even indirectly) some sex reference (whether in dialect or in Italian).
For example...if a woman's surname is Cox...I think that it's the registry office that will call you, saying "dear madam, why don't you change your surname?"
In this cases you can change a vowel, or two vowels, a consonant or two consonants.
It is allowed.
Or if you are a married woman, you can change your surname into the husband's surname.

So...the change of surname is something that happens very, very seldom. The wealthy do it often because money opens every door.
Basically no woman adopts their husband's surname...also because it's a too complicated procedure to change your fiscal codes, your ID code. So they will deny married women this opportunity, unless they provide them with a good justification.

 

[Stevicus]

Well...as many of you know, in many countries women adopt the husband's surname as soon as they get married.
Isn't this tendency a bit...you know...anti-feminism?
A woman has already a surname. I don't understand why they should sign differently...or change their surname in their ID.
I am curious about the situation of your countries.
What happens when a woman gets married? Will she change her surname into the marital surname, in the registry office? She will have to change her own signature, as well?
Thank you in advance.

I think it's traditional, but not required by law. Many women keep their own names when they get married, or they might hyphenate the name.

I can't say whether it's pro-feminism or anti-feminism. I do recall that the title "Ms." came about because men have "Mr." whether they're married or not, but women were "Miss" or "Mrs." to denote that they're married or unmarried.

 

[Estro Felino]

They asked what names we wanted on the marriage certificate.

Ah, okay. So they ask the wife at the moment of the marriage registration.
Thank you .

 

[Estro Felino]

I think it's traditional, but not required by law. Many women keep their own names when they get married, or they might hyphenate the name.

I can't say whether it's pro-feminism or anti-feminism. I do recall that the title "Ms." came about because men have "Mr." whether they're married or not, but women were "Miss" or "Mrs." to denote that they're married or unmarried.

Who doesn't in America?
All female politicians have the husband's surname...as far as I know.

Even Hillary...I mean...after all that her husband did to her...broadcast worldwide.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

Well...as many of you know, in many countries women adopt the husband's surname as soon as they get married.

In Mexico, the woman doesn't change names upon marriage. A name is typically four parts - a first name, a middle name (they don't call it that), and a compound last name made from the paternal name of both parents (the compound last name has the paternal component first followed by a maternal one). Thus, Hector Luis Hernandez Garcia, who goes as Hector Hernandez marries Alicia Maria Ramirez Gonzoles, and Alicia doesn't change her name. When she and Hector have a child that they want to call Miguel Pablo, he will be Miguel Pablo Hernandez Ramirez - Miguel Hernandez for short. His mother never becomes a Hernandez like her husband and son, but the son acquires the Ramirez name in the fourth position.

 

[JustGeorge]

In the US, you have a few options. One spouse can take the surname of the other; usually its the woman taking the last name of the man, but it does not have to be. Men can take the last name of the woman, or in a same sex marriage, the couple can choose which name they want.

Its not uncommon for a woman to add her husband's surname to her own(men can do this, too, but I haven't seen it done). So, if Sue Smith marries Lyle Miller, she can choose to be Sue Smith-Miller.

The couple can also choose a totally new surname and both people change their name to something totally different. Most people don't know this is an option, though.

 

[Aupmanyav]

In India, it is not a matter of debate. If my children do not carry the name of their mother's family, are we less respectful of them? Yes, In a paeternal society, husband's family name continued. In our community, the problem is even greater. We have the tradition of giving a new 'in-laws house" name to the bride (all out of love, she is our's now). Like, Ms. Raj Kiran Ganjoo becomes Mrs. Jyoti Reu, a complete overhaul. In olden days, it was no problem, since the women would not be in a job. But it is a problem now when a teacher Ms. Anupama Reu marries Dr. Kapil Raina and her name is changed to Mrs. Kaveri Raina. It is a bother to change name in employment record, passport, driving license, voter's card, bank account, Income tax record, though it does not cost any money. My daughter-in-law accepted her new name 'Ananya' when her pre-marriage name was 'Anupama', though both the names mean the same thing, 'uncomparable'. But she likes to include her family name in her name, i.e., 'Ananya Sikri Reu'. I think she has various names in various records. That too is OK, if she is not inconvenienced. We are not touchy about it. My grandsons are Reus, or more correctly according to Kashmiri pronunciation 'Rivu'.

 

[Estro Felino]

In the US, you have a few options. One spouse can take the surname of the other; usually its the woman taking the last name of the man, but it does not have to be. Men can take the last name of the woman, or in a same sex marriage, the couple can choose which name they want.

Its not uncommon for a woman to add her husband's surname to her own(men can do this, too, but I haven't seen it done). So, if Sue Smith marries Lyle Miller, she can choose to be Sue Smith-Miller.

The couple can also choose a totally new surname and both people change their name to something totally different. Most people don't know this is an option, though.

Here such a thing is a no no.
Especially because nobody knows whether a marriage will work out or not.
So women here never take the husband's surname because one can remain stuck with the surname of your ex husband forever. Even after the divorce.
The State here can change your surname once (to do you a favor) but not twice...because it becomes something playful...
It's not that simple to change the ID codes, the fiscal code...etc...
in my humble opinion.

 

[JustGeorge]

Here such a thing is a no no.
Especially because nobody knows whether a marriage will work out or not.
So women here never take the husband's surname because one can remain stuck with the surname of your ex husband forever.
The State here can change your surname once (to do you a favor) but not twice...because it becomes something playful...
in my humble opinion.

We're pretty loose with it here. My mom has been married twice, and changed names both times. If she marries again, she'll change it again.

You can pay money to have your name(any part of it) changed for any reason as well. I'm considering having my first name legally changed.

 

[Estro Felino]

We're pretty loose with it here. My mom has been married twice, and changed names both times. If she marries again, she'll change it again.

You can pay money to have your name(any part of it) changed for any reason as well. I'm considering having my first name legally changed.

Changing your first name here is absolutely not allowed.
Unless you are a transsexual person and you need to change a male name into a female one. This is the only open window.

 

[sun rise]

Who doesn't in America?
All female politicians have the husband's surname...as far as I know.

Even Hillary...I mean...after all that her husband did to her...broadcast worldwide.

It's generational. When I was growing up, women always took the husband's surname. Over time it's evolved until now it's a free-for-all: male takes her name, she takes his, they hyphenate names, construct a new surname out of parts of both names or pick something entirely different with both changing.

 

[Harel13]

I think it's a bit ironic that many modern western women prefer to keep their maiden surname out of a feministic notion (although I am aware of other notions behind this act) considering that most of these surnames still come from the paternal side of their family...

 

[Stevicus]

In the US, you have a few options. One spouse can take the surname of the other; usually its the woman taking the last name of the man, but it does not have to be. Men can take the last name of the woman, or in a same sex marriage, the couple can choose which name they want.

Its not uncommon for a woman to add her husband's surname to her own(men can do this, too, but I haven't seen it done). So, if Sue Smith marries Lyle Miller, she can choose to be Sue Smith-Miller.

The couple can also choose a totally new surname and both people change their name to something totally different. Most people don't know this is an option, though.

Well, I guess one can legally change their name to anything they want, and this points out some of the more unusual examples: 11 Offbeat Legal Name Changes | Mental Floss

For example, there's someone who legally changed their name to "Bacon Double Cheeseburger."

But my favorite was "Captain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine Hulk And The Flash Combined." Apparently everyone calls him "Captain" for short.

 

[Estro Felino]

I think it's a bit ironic that many modern western women prefer to keep their maiden surname out of a feministic notion (although I am aware of other notions behind this act) considering that most of these surnames still come from the paternal side of their family...

That's a very good point. But in a society where celebrities (but also the person next door) get married multiple times...is it worth it to change your surname?
I don't think so...

40 Celebrities Who Have Been Married Three Or More Times