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.
#61
will be changing mine because my family name doesn’t represent family to me. my “family” were never my family so he will be my new family
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4points
#62
i didnt have any attachment to my last name. it was more important to him that i change it than it was to me not to change it. It says nothing about me that I changed my name other than I chose to do it. it doesnt make me his property it doesnt diminish me. Had it been important to me to keep my name. I would have.
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4points
#63
My husband and I both changed our names :) I was Bowen and he was Ford now were both Bowen-Ford. People are always weirded out that he changed his name though and its usually pretty funny to watch him ask why that would be weird
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4points
#65
My last name was hard to spell and pronounce. My new last name is easy- Moore.
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3points
#66
i am a first generation college & graduate student and worked so hard for my title and certifications so keeping my name was important to me. i hyphenated but haven’t changed legally. he knows our last name is shared, and everyone else knows it. i just simply don’t feel like changing on paper.
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3points
#67
My dad is African so I feel it would be weird to have black kids without their ethnic last name 😭 I know it could give them perks but eh… if you have to rely on duping people into believing ur white to get in somewhere it’s not a safe place to be anyway.
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3points
#71
Thinking about the reverse scenario: I feel it would be degrading to have a man change his name to mine-
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2points
