Why do some women NOT change their last name when they get married?

Question

I work in a very affluent area and I've noticed that a lot of women around here keep their madien names and don't take their husbands surname. Why is that? Personally I don't have a problem changing my last name when I get married. Not that I dislike my last name I just think its proper to change it once you get married...its tradition. But I don't really get why some women don't change their last names....

Answer 1

I did not change my last name because I hated my husbands family from the beggining and I did not want to be one of them.

Answer 2

I didn't change my name after I got married. I was very eager to do it, but when we got married I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it. I know that it's totally psychological. I get this weird feeling inside when people call me by my first name and his last name. I feel like I would be losing a big part of myself and that I would not be me if I changed my name. I trying to build up the courage though. My husband feels insulted because I haven't done it. I am also extremely independent.

Answer 3

I couldn't wait to change my surname bc my maiden name has 12 letters in it! My husband's has only 6 letters! We are both of greek parentage, but his surname was shortened and doesnt really resemble a greek surname. Part of me was very sad to lose that connection with my heritage.... but i followed tradition. Also, my maiden name has a long ancestry, but we no longer have any males to carry on the name. There was a sadness when i changed my surname, because slowly, slowly the name is becoming extinct!

Answer 4

Because you said it, its tradition. Women may choose not to change it for several reasons. Its easier to keep it the way it is, its old fashioned, to some women it might be a display of submission and alot of relationships arent like they were in the 20's(be seen not heard). Or maybe the man's last name is just distasteful to the woman?

Answer 5

Some women, like myself, would like to keep their personal identity even in a marriage, which is how its looked at to me. I never dropped my maiden name just added the new one. You said the main issue of taking your married name, tradition, which says that you are committed to this person for life, but what if it really don't work out and you are using his name (like mine didn't) what then? It's a personal choice for both men & women on whose name will be used in a marriage.

Answer 6

I would think that women that are already established in a professional job or business, and also women who are independant. I took my husbands name, but I put a lot of thought into it. I didn't want to lose my own identity, sometimes I still wonder if I did the right thing.

Answer 7

Its supposed to be a woman being submissive in the relationship and her father giving her over to another family at the wedding. One question I do have though is when two men get married, who gets the last name? I am gay and would be more than happy to give up my last name if I loved him enough to marry.

Answer 8

It's not always a good idea to not change their last name. Without lawfully changing their last name via driver's licenses, social security numbers, if something happened to their husbands these women that did not change their last name will have a hard time collecting on any benefits he may have including insurance payout.

Answer 9

Women dont because every thing she will accomplish after she is married with his last name he will hold against her as if he made her who she is. Trust me I know from a friend. I guess I trust my man enough to take his last name besides I aint have no daddy around when I was growing so who needs his last name!

Answer 10

Some women don't like their husbands' last names, but more than likely, they want to keep their own identity.

Commonly in affluent circles, wives become MRS. WHATEVER, not known as themselves. They may feel like a possession, a pet, a piece of furniture, or "owned"......they become known for what their husbands do. They want to keep a piece of themselves that distinguishes themselves.....