Why do people change their surnames after they are married?

[nayalamb 1]

this thread is all over the place...

1) taking on jigga's last name because i have an old high school friend with same name, same age AND she moved to the states too. ugh.

2) adding his would be too many names. my first name, TWO long middle names (including a hypenated one), and then my maiden name AND married name? no way! i can't fill out forms properly as it is.

3) one of my sisters hypenated, but i never really liked it. most people simply address her with her married name anyway.

4) i like his last name so much better. mine is constantly mispronounced (even at my college graduation ).

on to other matters,

i LOVE seafood! i have not been to red lobster in quite a few years... but when i go to the buffet, i pig out on crab legs, shrimp, sushi and mussels. yum.

as for hockey... GO FLYERS! (actually i don't watch or follow the game, but since philly is my new home, i thought i'd root for the home team!)

shonjaved... i love how you manage to get your coworkers to go with whatever you want for lunch!

[kc456 0]

It seemed like a natural thing to do. If you are planning on children it’s nice to have all members of the family to have the same last name. Also, my maiden name is pretty difficult to say correctly, at least now they can only mangle my first name.

[Marilyn. 340]

I changed my last name to hubby's because I wanted to, it was MY way of showing that hubby and I belonged together and because I was tired of my other last name ..... I had it for 30 years, I wanted a change

Edited March 13, 2006 by MarilynP

[almaty 19]

I changed my last name to hubby's because I wanted to, it was MY way of showing that hubby and I belonged together and because I was tired of my other last name ..... I had it for 30 years, I wanted a change

[mawilson 2,133]

It seemed like a natural thing to do. If you are planning on children it’s nice to have all members of the family to have the same last name. Also, my maiden name is pretty difficult to say correctly, at least now they can only mangle my first name.

I never said it was unnatural for a family to have the same name, but why does the woman

have to be the one to change? You won't find many guys willing to change their last name

for a woman, yet women do it all the time and think nothing of it.

[Marilyn. 340]

it is just a name

[kc456 0]

I never said it was unnatural for a family to have the same name, but why does the woman

have to be the one to change? You won't find many guys willing to change their last name

for a woman, yet women do it all the time and think nothing of it.

Interesting point. Must be the darned traditions -- "we always do it that way." Perhaps it will change in the future; that'd be cool.

[tom&tata 2]

I have Indonesian last name. Althought it is unique, it is prone to misspelling and I sometimes cringe when the name is being pronounced. That is the pro for name change. On the other hand, all the paperwork of going through name change seems like another "journey"

[ChristinaM 0]

it is just a name

But to some people it's much more than that; it's an intrinsic part of their identity. I know as an immigrant I felt that I'd lost a huge chunk of my identity because I'd lost my "comfort zone" - the people who knew me professionally (by my maiden name), my friends and family. For me, it was a new start and a new name didn't matter, and I was proud to take my husbands name, but to lose that last shred of identity is harder for some people. Or for professional reasons, for example.

[Peggy 1]

As usual, the Canadians took over the thread and turned it into a discussion about food. How predictable.

You saying Canadians eat to much

You shouldnt really roll your eyes. They may stay like that.

[JayJay 4]

My married name is much cooler than my maiden name :D

[Marilyn. 340]

it is just a name

But to some people it's much more than that; it's an intrinsic part of their identity. I know as an immigrant I felt that I'd lost a huge chunk of my identity because I'd lost my "comfort zone" - the people who knew me professionally (by my maiden name), my friends and family. For me, it was a new start and a new name didn't matter, and I was proud to take my husbands name, but to lose that last shred of identity is harder for some people. Or for professional reasons, for example.

when I said "it is just a name" I didn't mean to imply that I was for women changing thier name... I just don't think this issue should be such a big deal.... I did change my name but if other women want to keep thier name that is totally fine it is just a name.... get it ?

[mawilson 2,133]

My married name is much cooler than my maiden name :D

JayJay! Welcome back!

[Melo 1]

My married name is much cooler than my maiden name :D

Where have you been Jay???? Glad you are back

[CarolineM 0]

This is an odd thread. I got bored reading about Lobster, sorry, and skipped the hockey part, cause I don't like hockey...

and don't know what we are left with.

My married name is cool and I am still not used to it