Why do people change their surnames after they are married?

[scy 0]

I come from a country where women never change their surnames upon marriage. In this age of identity theft and terrorists, proving one's identity is essential to getting anything done. Yet I don't understand why some people choose to go through the extra hassle of changing their names. Chaning name is especially chaotic for an immigrant. Someone enlighten me as to the reasons why you decided to change your surname knowing you will have to go through a lot of hassle.

Edited March 10, 2006 by scy

[Cassie 8]

Because I wanted to share the same last name as my husband.

Oh, and my maiden name is longer than my married name -- I now save 1.36 seconds signing my cheques.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

In some cultures you do and in others you don't. Here, you get to take your pick.

Nani is from a place where changing names is not done. I am from a place where it is done. We talked about it and ended up leaving Nani with her name intact. Our kids will carry my name. Settled.

[Cristy 4]

I plan to change my name and my kids name. I want to have his name and I want us all to have the same name.

[aussiewench 9]

I chose to take my husbands name as for me it is just the done thing and I love that I carry his last name. I had already done all my name changes prior to the immigration process so there will be no issues at all now. I did have to go through a lot of messing around to do it as we were married in the US and aside from my drivers licence, no one would accept my marriage certificate so I had to do a change of name first. I had to make sure I did everything in the correct order as I needed ID in maiden name with some things and my married name in others hahaha nearly drove me nuts.

[ChristinaM 0]

Sign of attachment and wanting to share something with my husband, I think. My feeling (being a Brit, where we change our names) is that unless you have a professional or cultural reason to keep your maiden name you should change it, but that's my feeling only.

I read an article on this very issue recently, which I don't agree with completely, but it had an interesting take and it made me think.

http://www.andtheylivedhappilyeverafter.com/9.htm

[KarenCee 3]

I plan on taking my husband's name...to me it's my way of being one with him, of showing him how much I love him. Now, don't misinterpret that statement to say if you don't take your husband's name that it means you don't love him...this is just my choice. Besides, I'm also ready to shed this name that I got from my ex...one less thing to remind me of my huge mistake in life.

Edited March 10, 2006 by KarenCee

[Fuzzness 2]

I don't care if Karen takes my name or goes back to her maiden name. As long as she doesn't hyphenate.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It's a cultural thing.

[CarolineM 0]

I want to be my husband's in every way - changing my name was just one way to do it.

[john_and_marlene 162]

I don't care if Karen takes my name or goes back to her maiden name. As long as she doesn't hyphenate.

heypenated names always bug me

[KarenCee 3]

I don't care if Karen takes my name or goes back to her maiden name. As long as she doesn't hyphenate.

heypenated names always bug me

I definately agree...I plan on being Karen Pothier...I want to completely be his and this is my way of doing that.

[Aymerlu 3]

I went from being a JONES to a BROWN. Since both names are very common here I have had problems with many people having the same name as me and getting medical bills for them. I've also had people call me and say "hey are you the one the just was arrested? I saw your name in the paper!" I cannot wait to get rid of my ex's name and have an unique name like my fiance. Woman can choose what they want to do, and I am choosing to change. Some of my friends have kept their maiden name and hyphenate it, but we all do what we want.

[Fuzzness 2]

I don't care if Karen takes my name or goes back to her maiden name. As long as she doesn't hyphenate.

heypenated names always bug me

I definately agree...I plan on being Karen Pothier...I want to completely be his and this is my way of doing that.

Thats the name of my dentist's secretary

[faith 0]

Several reasons for me.

1. I want to share everything with my husband.. including last names.

2. i wanted to rid myself of my ex's last name (even tho my kids still have it cuz he's their dad) Even tho we are good friends, it just didn't seem right to carry his name anymore, and going back to my maiden name isn't an option.. I was either going to have my hubby's last name or my kids' last name.

3. I want to have the same last name as my baby (again even tho the other 2 don't have it)

4. Sometimes when I'm signing documents (I'm a notary) I have no idea why I did it because my last name is so ungodly long now

5. It's traditional to do so.

6. I'm a girl and it's kinda romantic