Why in England women change surname when they get married?

Question

To me, it looks male-chauvinist and very old fashioned. It's like denying your own identity! You don't become another person because you get married, you are still yourself. I'm Italian, and in my Country by law women keep their name when they get married. I have always thought of England as the mother-country of democracy and equal rights, and this habit really surprises me.

Answer 1

Not all women do, it is not a law that we have to, it is merely down to preferrence.

Oh, and I am Ms. It is not meaningless and I should not be judged by being married or unmarried. Women who don't change their names are not ashamed, and children should have the option of taking the mothers surname instead of the fathers. My children will have MY surname.

Answer 2

I think you'll find that it is not just England; most western nations follow this custom, so there is no need for you to be surprised - except at the fact that you were not aware of this! There is no actual law that obliges the woman to assume her husband's surname, but most women do.

NOTE. When I was at school (in England) the mothers of two of my Italian friends were called Mrs Magnani and Mrs Muzzolini, respectively, so were they merely following the British tradition?

Answer 3

Up until the late 1800's when a woman married she became, along with any possessions she owned and any children bared the property of the husband for him to do with as he so pleased, that was why it is only a recently there has been change in the law concerning domestic violence and marital rape, for it was deemed prior to this is was a man's right to do with his wife as he so chose.

As of 1971 a mother and father have equal rights to the child and as of the late 60's a woman has the right to prosecute a husband for marital rape and abuse the changing of the name has never quavered

Answer 4

because traditionally, church does not allowed divorce, so the wife stays with her husband tell death take them apart, so the wife take the husband's family name so they have one family name all life long. But now divorce is permitted and wives can take independent life and may be they should change that. Also England Has royal family which some how keeping the tradition.

Answer 5

I don't know the reason but, is not the only country where women change their surname after married. Argentina is another country...I'm pretty sure there are a lot more...

Answer 6

There is no law that forces this, it is merely customary. It means that the wife has become part of the husband's family. It does not mean that she has left her own!

Just ask any married English man if he has "in-laws" in his life!

Answer 7

you don't have to change your name or take your partners name but it makes the admin life a lot easier when the legal forms come in through the letter box and Tony its got nothing to do with democracy or chauvinism

Answer 8

Its to do with property etc, the males carrying the bloodline, etc. Some people do have both "double-barrelled" surnames, usually because they believe the name has prestige.

Answer 9

I'm personally happy to take my husbands name because it identifies me as someone who has left my parents and become joined to one man, it also creates a family identity for children, they know they belong to a certain family. God said we should become as one when we marry.

Answer 10

1 Corinthians 7:3-4 says:
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.


Colossians 3:18-19
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Also remember many women also do this in the states. When you get married, a woman becomes one with her husband. They become one body.