Women Changing Last Name After Marriage
The practice of a woman taking her husband’s name started in 11th-century England when women became part of a husband’s estate upon marrying. The custom of women changing their last name after getting married is an archaic tradition, from a time when women were treated as property by men.
Legal Aspects of Changing Last Name
You don’t need to legally change your name to match your spouse’s anymore. After registering your marriage, you have one month to update your passport if taking a double surname. The law does not say a woman must change her name after marriage.
Personal Choices on Last Name Change
My best friend didn’t change her last name when she married because she has published studies under her name and changing it could impact her career more negatively than if she keeps her name. So we asked women who decided not to change their last names when they got married what went into their decisions, how others reacted to their choice, and their advice for women who are thinking about keeping their own name. On deciding not to change… It’s [my last name] my personal and professional identity, and I like the lineage connection to my birth family. Changing my last name to my husband’s seems like an unnecessary step to solidify our commitment to each other.