Why do women take their husband's last name?
This change in women's identity, by taking a husband's name, has emerged from patriarchal history where wives had no surname except “wife of XYZ”. The wife was the husband's possession and right up to the late 19th-century, women in England ceded all property and parental rights to husbands on marriage.
Why do people change their names when they get married?
A name does not unite a family, the people within it do. Those who change their names because it’s what their husband wants need to recognize that we still live in a time where paternal name dominance is still the rival culture. Women are raised to be prepared to abandon their name, to put less value behind it, to put his first before yourself.
Is it a tradition to keep your last name after divorce?
It’s only a perception, not a tangible fact. Everyone has a 40-50% chance of getting divorce, it won’t seem so romantic of a name if you decide to keep it or have to change back to your original name that never divorced you. Yes it is tradition, but as I pointed out they are not traditions.
Why do women adopt their spouses’ names?
There are three reasons why the tradition of women adopting their spouses names exists. 1. The first is that upon marrying Abraham, his new wife no longer existed as herself but as the “wife of Abraham.” So if you’re not religious, this name-change reasoning doesn’t really float. 2.
Why do people take their husband's last name?
Why do we hyphenate last names?
How much does it cost to change your name after marriage?
When did same sex marriage become legal?
When did women get the right to vote?
Who is Cherisse Harris?
Can my husband take my last name?
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When did women start using the last name of their husband after ...
Oddly the two linked articles seem to say totally different things. The first says that in English speaking cultures, women have traditionally taken their husband's last name upon marriage, while the second says that, traditionally, they kept their last name (although could be referred to as Mrs. [husband's name]) and it is only in the last century that it has been common to take her husband's ...
Why so many women still take their husband’s last name
Hillary Rodham Clinton famously adopted her husband’s last name in the 1980s after it looked as if his political fortunes were souring. Getty Images
When did people inherit their first names?
In England, the tradition of inherited surnames dates back to the 12th century , Coates says, when everyone in a given town had one of maybe a dozen first names, complicating the process of orchestrating an inheritance: “If you were called Robert, chances are there were several other Roberts within striking distance.
Why do people have a brand new last name?
A brand-new last name can simultaneously signal a couple’s feminist values and their commitment to the cohesion of the family unit , says Powell. “The idea that one person with one name, and another person with another name, come together to jointly create a new one ... symbolically, it can be very powerful,” he says.
Why did Rachel Ackoff and Lee Leviter decide to keep their names?
The decision, they say, stemme d from a strong distaste for patriarchy.
Where did Leviter and Ackoff come from?
Both Ackoff and Leviter, for example, come from Jewish families that had immigrated from Eastern Europe, where Jews generally did not adopt surnames until they were forced to do so by the government in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
What was the biggest hurdle to creating a new name?
The biggest hurdle to creating a new name, most couples agreed, was the logistical legwork. Lauren Goodlev — formerly Lauren Levy, a cantor based in Philadelphia who combined names with her husband, originally Eric Goodman — spent about $1,000 on the process.
Is the inherited last name going anywhere?
The inherited last name probably isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, according to Coates. But with time, he says, he believes the tradition could change. It’s a shift that would happen gradually, he says, “with lots of individual decisions not to do it the traditional ancestral way.”.
Do women adopt their husband's last name?
Particularly in coastal cities and other liberal enclaves, it’s no longer assumed that a woman will adopt her husband’s last name when they get married: She might keep her name, he might change his, or the two might hyphenate.
Why do women take their husband's last name?
The main reasons a wife usually takes her husband's last names are because they are very traditional, and or they plan to have children and want everyone to have the same last name. It's often less confusing for children and relatives if everyone has the same last name and the family may be pe. Continue Reading.
Why don't women take their husband's name?
There are many reason women don't take their husband's surname; often it's because the woman is well established with that name.
Why do women take their surnames to their in-laws?
Though women would do equal hard work at home she is not known to people outside her home as men do. So taking the ‘known surname’ to out side home would have been more logical.
Why did women change their names?
It was men who went out to work and earned bread for the family. A name change was one way to let people know that a woman is married and no longer single.
What does it mean when someone puts their father's name in their name?
Sometimes, a person also used to attach their father’s name (owing to the patriarchal society) in their given name. For example, “Stevenson” is actually “Steven’s son”, indicating that the name of the father of that person is Steven, or that they.
Why was the name of the house the last name of the house?
This was because it was assumed that the husband would buy or build the house, and the wife would come and live in it. So his last name was the name of the house. With royalty, "house" became a lot bigger and involved several houses.
What would happen if there was no last name?
If there was no surname or last name it will become very difficult to identify people, as there would be many persons with the same first name. If there is a surname, identification becomes easier. ( There may be more than one person with the same first name and surname, but probability will be very less).
Why is the verbal female line obliterated?
Essentially, the verbal female line is obliterated in favor of unity under a male surname. This makes sense in a way: a singular family name helps bring everyone together as a unit. The use of the male name over the female name represents male ownership over both women and the family.
Is a woman considered a male property?
Women are not considered male property in America, and our structural traditions should reflect that. Jennet Kaya. Feb 20, 2019. Western Washington University. 713. Just because something is tradition, does not mean it is the most effective solution. For the majority of marriages around the world, it is considered customary for a wife ...
Is a name an identity?
A name is not as simple as it seems. A name becomes an identity. A name shapes our understanding of ourselves; if the tradition of male names being passed down continues every family will unwittingly submit to the standards of the patriarchy.
Does a family with an absent father have to keep his name?
In my opinion, a family with an absent father has no obligation to keep his name, as it had no obligation to receive it in the first place. It may not seem like much as it is just technicalities, but technicalities govern the structure in which we present and define ourselves.
Did women have last names in the Bible?
In Bible times, most people did not even have last names. Women were often identified by where they lived (e.g., Mary Magdalene, Luke 8:2 ), by their children (e.g., Mary the mother of James and Joseph, Matthew 27:56 ), or by their husband (e.g., Mary the wife of Clopas, John 19:25 ).". The important thing to notice here is ...
Is the tradition of masculine name inheritance biblical?
It's thought the tradition of masculine name inheritance is biblical, although this isn't a fully supported theory: "The tradition of a wife taking her husband's last name at marriage is not found in the Bible. In Bible times, most people did not even have last names.
Do people hyphenate their names after marriage?
People do hyphenate their names after marriage after all, but very few men actually decide to take their bride's last name. "A man taking his wife's name — remains incredibly rare: In a recent study of 877 heterosexual married men, fewer than 3% took their wife's name when they got married.".
Why do women take their husband's name?
This reason also no longer exist. Here are the modern reasons why women chose to take their husbands name: 1. It’s romantic. 2.
Why do women adopt their spouse's names?
1. The first is that upon marrying Abraham, his new wife no longer existed as herself but as the “wife of Abraham.”. So if you’re not religious, this name-change reasoning doesn’t really float. 2.
Why do people change their names?
Those who change their names because it’s what their husband wants need to recognize that we still live in a time where paternal name dominance is still the rival culture. Women are raised to be prepared to abandon their name, to put less value behind it, to put his first before yourself. Some women would disagree with me arguing that they love their surname, but our freewill is often tainted with lessons learnt from a lifetime. My best counter argument to just following the man or husband in the relationship, is that if you reversed the roles – asking him to consider changing his name, hyphenating it or creating a new one, you will often find men considerable less willing to do so. That indicates taught double standards in our society. Believe you have a relationship built on equality and practices equality? This is a great test to see if you really do.
Can you combine last names?
I’ve seen a few couples actually combine their last names (literally combine, like last names Smith + Hurley legally changing to Smurley) or otherwise make a new name. The legal paperwork sounded like a little bit of a hassle, but certainly not a deal-breaker.
Is it a tradition to keep your name if you never divorced?
Everyone has a 40-50% chance of getting divorce, it won’t seem so romantic of a name if you decide to keep it or have to change back to your original name that never divorced you. Yes it is tradition, but as I pointed out they are not traditions.
Is it easier to change your name than a man?
Thanks for the comment Popcorn Devil! The paperwork is indeed a hassle to change a name, although it is much easier for just a women to change her name legally than a man. In fact, men have to pay higher fees and jump through more hoops if he wanted to change his name. Sounds like there are name-changing double standard for men too!
When did women have to take their husband's name?
Still, the matter of a wife taking a husband’s surname didn’t surface in English common law until the ninth century , when lawmakers began to consider the legalities surrounding personhood, families, and marriage. Thusly (as they would say), the doctrine of coverture emerged – and women were thereafter considered “one” with their husbands and therefore required to assume the husband’s surname as their own.
When did women gain legal status?
states in the mid-1800s. Under these acts, women gained individual legal status for purposes of signing contracts, engaging in business and commerce, and making purchases to acquire property. Accordingly, now that the woman’s name had its own independent legal significance, the number of women opting to retain their birth name began to rise.
Is the surname Thomas important?
Historically, a person’s surname was not considered all that important. In early medieval England, most people were known only by one name, their “Christian name,” such as Thomas or Anne, which was conferred at baptism. But as the population grew, it got tiresome trying to distinguish among the many Thomases or Annes (or Richards or Marys), so surnames arose, often based on lineage (such Williamson), occupation (such as Smith), or locale (such as York).
Is it legal to change your name after marriage?
While there is no law in the United States requiring a name change after marriage, the tradition is still very much alive and well, thanks in part to its historical underpinnings in English (and subsequently American) common law.
Do women hyphenate their birth name?
Considering all these hassles (and for other more idealistic and/or personal reasons), it’s not surprising that a number of women are opting to retain their birth surname, or hyphenating theirs and their husband’s last names, thereby ensuring that both sides of the family will be equally represented in the last name of subsequent children. Still, many new wives prefer to adhere to tradition – taking their husband’s name immediately upon marriage.
Why do people take their husband's last name?
For some, taking their husband's last name simply serves to solidify the commitment. It's a gesture that leaves no room for doubt—changing their surname after marriage shows they're all in. For others, taking their husbands' surname is more about the status of the family unit—when there is a family unit to speak of.
Why do we hyphenate last names?
Back in the day, when marriages were more of an alliance between families, hyphenation was common practice. If you don’t want to lose your last name or slight your spouse, try hyphenating your last name for a solution that offers equal representation.
How much does it cost to change your name after marriage?
For a passport older than one year, however, there is a charge for a new issue. Additionally, you will have to pay to replace your driver’s license, which, again, varies by state and jurisdiction. Typically, the cost of a replacement is $50 or less. A new social security card, however, is free for marital name changes; just be sure to work directly with the Social Security Administration.
When did same sex marriage become legal?
When the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the country in 2015, part of the ruling allowed for same-sex partners to change their names just as opposite-sex couples do.
When did women get the right to vote?
While women earned the right to vote in 1920, the fine print read that they can only do so using their husband’s last name. It wasn’t until over a half-century later that a Tennessee court upheld women’s right to vote using their maiden name, courtesy of Dunn v. Palermo.
Who is Cherisse Harris?
Cherisse Harris is a fact-checker with a focus on lifestyle, beauty, and parenting. She's worked in research for nearly two decades.
Can my husband take my last name?
If you really want to turn the tradition on its head, your husband can take your last name. It's not the most common practice, but it's certainly an option.