Women, last names and marriage...

[afro-elf]

Women, last names and marriage...

Any thoughts on should a women change her name in marriage.

[Lizra]

I went along with tradition and changed my name. I suppose it was a gesture of my willingness to transform myself, also a show of my seriousness with our choice to start a life together. I don't know what a man can do to match it. (except work his life away to provide for his family! ) I took his name, and "grew" our children. I like the intensity of it all! . I still don't get what you do with the children's names if both parents keep their own, it's confusing. Both my birth name and my married name started with the same three letters, so when I sign my last name (now), I write out the first three letters like I always did, then a long line! I'm lazy! My first name is long enough to show a good style for signature purpose. The name thing is goofy cause you have your fathers last name not your mothers, so where is the "accuracy" in the first place! Isn't it the female mitochondria that is the stable genetic marker?

[Aeryn]

I'll never change my last name. Only because I am...the last of my kind. My dad was the only child to have kids. I am the only child begotten of my father. My husband better appreciate that fact, because HE is going to be changing his last name.

ooc: I'm here for a New Year's visit.

[Rían]

Great post, Lizra I agree. I like your new sig, too - there's snow on the ground where I'm at now, so a fire sounds great!

[afro-elf]

Isn't it the female mitochondria that is the stable genetic marker?

Well it is the male y chromosome that makes one male.
May it should like old Norse or like Iceland today. The boys get the dad's name and daughter's the mom's name in a manner of speaking

In Colombia the kids get the mom and dad name as dual last name.

[Lizra]

Thanks Rian. I'm the last of my birth family too, no siblings or cousins to carry on, but I didn't care, my husband seemd more important to me!
So in Columbia, don't the names get real long after a few generations? Lets see, Liz Smith-Jones, marries Joe Black- White, their child Sally Smith-Jones-Black- White, marries Tom Noble-Greene, and their child Steve Smith-Jones-Black-White-Noble-Greene....??
The Iceland way sounds good! Hi Aeryn!

[Aeryn]

Okay, so in Icelands the chicks get the hens name and the ...*can't think of anything clever* bastards get the roosters name? But who changes their name when the rooster marrys the hen...*I sound like a drunk 4 year old*....*I don't know what a drunk 4 year old sounds like*

[wahine]

It depends, if the hubby's Hawaiian I'm keeping mine, it is at least intelligible, if my hubs has a normal last name like Smith, Brown, or Jones. Hallelujah.

I think changing your last name either if your a man or a woman is just an option, not a command *thank the gods*

[Artanis]

I kept my name when I got married. My husband and I both have rear family names, none of us wants the name to die out. Our kids have different family names; the girl has my family name and the boys have my husbands family name. It's not a perfect solution, but we thought it better than two family names for the children.

This is how I think the Icelandic system works (Reumandar please correct me if you're reading this):
Children get their family name after their father's first name. If you were a boy named Eirik and your father's first name was Sigurd, then your full name would be Eirik Sigurdsson, translated 'Eirik son of Sigurd'. If you were a girl named Ingrid and you were daughter of the same Sigurd, your name would be Ingrid Sigurdsdottir, translated 'Ingrid daughter of Sigurd'. Or you could use your mother's name as the basis of your family name after the same manner.

[Sween]

when i get married i dont expect or even care if the woman takes my name. I know my mum allways deeply resented taking richardson says it to common much prefered rippon. Also ment that she could not give me her favorite name which is richard i mean richard richardson

[Hanza]

I will probably take their name unless it really would sound stupid. I think Hannah would go with quite a lot though so i think i'll be Ok to take their name.

[Rían]

Originally posted by Lizra
So in Columbia, don't the names get real long after a few generations?

My sister-in-law is Colombian, I'll ask her.

[Elf Girl]

My mom kept her last name, I got hers and my brother got my dad's.

[Artanis]

Nice. Your family is the first one I've heard of that did the same thing as us.

[Laurelyn]

My mom kept her last name, but my brother and I got my dad's. I wish I'd gotten Mom's name, because it's Irish (Walsh; the surname for my pseudonym) and I'm really proud of my Irish roots. Not like I've anything against the English/German or whatever on my dad's side, but my heart's living in Ireland. And anyway Walsh is cooler.
I've actually considered getting my name changed. Maybe if I did I'd be Laurelyn Walsh for real.
I'm gonna keep my last name when I marry. IF I marry, which is doubtful.

[Erawyn]

My mother didn't change her name and I don't plan to. Besides even though my last name is really common, I like what it means (protector of many )

[Duddun]

My mom changed her name(Same reasons Lizra listed) but then changed her maiden name to her middle name. And then made it my middle name also.

[Millane]

i honestly wouldnt care if they didnt want to change there names but i would like the kids to have my name just coz it comes very farback... hey is it ever a case that the husband has to change there surname to the brides???... anyways im planning on marrying Sarah Mcleod (Rosie Cotton) and my last names McCloud but they sound the same so alls well

[azalea]

I liked my initials (and my middle name), so I hyphenated my last name w/ my husband's. Casually I go by his last name (as in, I don't sign our Christmas cards as separate names,etc.), but formally and legally I am the two hyphenated together. They're both short names so it's not awkward. Our kids have his last name.

[Earniel]

If I ever get married, it'll be up to whether I like my husband's name. I'd hate to let go of my last name, I think. My sister and I are the last of the family line as far as I know. It would be sad if the name dies out.

We at home both got our dad's last name and I think my mother has taken it too, though I'm not certain. Sometimes she gets post on her maiden name sometimes she gets it on my dad's name. very confusing.

I think it's a very pretty way to give the daughters in the family the name of the mother and the sons that of the father.