I kept my surname when I got married many years ago. I’d already made a name for myself in my career and also, I didn’t see why my entire identity (and all my official documents) had to change simply because someone put a ring on my finger. My then-husband was completely cool with it, but of course, not everyone shared his open-minded ways of thinking.
Historically, women changed their surnames upon marriage because, under English common law and in a patriarchal society, they “belonged” to their husbands. Nowadays, many still do, but for different reasons. And then there are those who buck tradition and hold onto the names they were born with.
Someone asked married women to share their reasons for keeping or not keeping their maiden names, and some of the answers may surprise you. Bored Panda has put together a list of the best. You’ll find that below, along with some info on where this tradition of taking someone else's name really comes from.
#41
I didn’t want to do all of the paperwork and wait in all of the lines 🤷🏻♀️My kids know I’m their mom, even though they have a different last name than I do, and we all love each other just the same
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6points
#42
I’m on the opposite end I changed mine immediately after my wedding o line & legally a few months later post honeymoon. I have no relationship with my dad & a toxic one when I was younger. The day I changed my last name I finally felt like I was free from the last little bit of him
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6points
#43
I changed my last name bc I love my husband’s family. I came from a very dysfunctional broken home and always admired his family and I wanted to be a part of it. A part of me struggled when I changed my last name though bc it felt like I was losing a part of my dad. He was the one person who stuck by me my whole life. It almost felt like I was betraying him in a way. He told me no matter what I’ll always be a Myers. I have plans to get my maiden name tattooed in my dad’s handwriting
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6points
#44
My fiance is taking my last name. My dad passed, my brother isn’t sure about kids, and my fiance has no ties to his last name (ex stepdads name) it’s a win win for us. I keep my dad’s name and he gets rid of a bad memory!
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6points
#45
1. My name is my identity and I didn’t want to change something I identify so strongly with 2. My degree is in my name 3. I’m lazy
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6points
#46
My husband always told me he didn't care one way or another. Since he didn't care, and I hate paperwork, I didn't see the necessity.
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6points
#47
Feminism and my dad passed and it's my connection to him and also paperwork😂
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5points
#48
I have to change my name in 2 different countries and going to the consulate/embassy is a nightmare.
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5points
#49
I changed mine because I wanted the same last name as my children. It had nothing to do with my husband. If we got divorced, I would keep his last name because it’s my children’s last name.
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5points
#50
Because in my culture, a woman doesn’t take her husband’s last name
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5points
#51
No I’ve literally been Maddy B (or my full last name) my ENTIRE life, people still call me Maddy B to this day, I couldn’t imagine having a DIFFERENT initial, let alone last name
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5points
#52
I liked his last name better than my maiden and it was easy. There’s a space in my maiden name that made everything a hassle with any sort of legal documents and potentially not matching up so I wanted to avoid that
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5points
#53
My name is my my identity and I don’t feel like giving that up for a last name that has family who doesn’t even speak to my husband. They aren’t worthy of that power.
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5points
#54
Mine is Gasca, not very common.. im not changing it to Piper😭 my ancestors alr mad im dating a white boy on purpose. Im keeping my roots
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5points
#55
knowing that I could change it to Targaryen but changed it to something else feels criminal. so the paper work just sits 😂
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5points
#56
my parents are the ones who got me to where i am, why would i want to replace their name? (doctor too)
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5points
#58
I'm changing mine because it carries too much weight of what I've been through and I no longer want it attached to me
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4points
#59
On the flip side, I chose to change my last name to his because I don’t really have one I consider to be my own (long story) and his was just cooler, but I divorced him and have chosen a last name from my maternal line!
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4points
#60
I’m not married, but I’ve always said the only way I’d ever change my last name is if the other person had a cooler last name and I don’t see that happening lol. But honestly now, if I do ever get married, I’ve just had this name too damn long, I have 2 degrees with it, it’s so much part of my identity and my family is very small and their aren’t many left with the name so I don’t see myself ever changing it.
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4points
