Why does the wife and not the husband change the last name after marriage?

Question

Granted historically males brought greater property into the marriage and insisted the wife change her last name. But nowadays many gals are worth more than guys, should there be an equity test before marriage to see who gets to surrender their last names. I offered to change my last name once and the gal fled. Just trying to be fair.

Answer 1

Tradition, that is about it. Historically, women were considered property. Until they were married, the female was her father's property. Once married, she became her husband's property. Why do you think the father gives the bride away at the wedding?

Today, it is just tradition. And, if you do so, you don't have to do it across the board. Many established women will keep their maiden names for professional reasons, but present themselves to friends and family with the husbands last name. Also, any are hyphenating their names these days as well. It is up to you at this point in time.

But, it is mainly done because of tradition.

Answer 2

It's an old tradition. The eldest male usually inherits all the property. That means the child must have the same last name. To make sure that this happened the mother must have the same last name. Now if the mother has a different last name then the father the child would be considered out of wedlock and not the heir to the property. The truth is I have no idea. I've been married twice and have told the women that they didn't have to change their last name, but both did. Your idea isn't bad either, why can't a man have his last name changed when married. How many men end up divorced and still want their wifes to support them? For example the fool that married Jessica Simpson.

Answer 3

Granted historically males brought greater property into the marriage and insisted the wife change her last name. But nowadays many gals are worth more than guys, should there be an equity test before marriage to see who gets to surrender their last names. I offered to change my last name once and the gal fled. Just trying to be fair.

Answer 4

Until the political laws came into the picture, the picture of marraiges was quite different. Right after marraige the girl had no right in her parents property. But she ejoyed equal rights in her hubby's property. The custom of changing only the woman's last name was for the reason of maintaining the records efficiently (as earlier there weren'ty anythings like the deeds or vasihat). Also it signified the the woman is now an indivisible part of that man's family and is supposed to be treated with the same respect as the man.

:-)

Answer 5

This is male domination by treating women their property.
In India, not only a part name but even full name of wife is changed. Her family name is always changed on marriage, from parents' to inlaws'. Her Passport, Educational Certificates, Ration Card and many other documents contain such changed name. On divorce/remarriage she cannot change her name again. In India,
earlier (even now rarely) women were burnt alive on the fire (pyre) alongwith dead bodies of their husbands, though forcibly but falsely claiming her willingness. Child marriages were (even now) comman. Widows of a few months aged too had to burn themselves upon the fire (pyre) put upon the bead bodies of their months aged husbands. People appreciated and prayed them as goddesses. It was quite unhuman. Despite stern laws, it is even now taking place somewhere or the other and the culture/tradition/usage prevailing for centuries in India could not be completely stopped.


Muslims firmly believe and strictly practice the teachings/commands of their holy book Quran & their Prophet, which is their Code of Life at all times/places. They have the written, clear and unambiguous teachings. Wives names are never changed among Muslims after marriage.

Answer 6

It has been a long time tradition for the female to change her last name to her husbands. It also depends of the part of the world. Now days you might see the husband take his wifes name. But it is not that common.

Answer 7

it's not the matter of equity.in the most part of the world we are living in pathiarchal society, wife followed the name of the husband and so are the children.

Offering to change your name is really fair and considerate. I can not think of why your girl fled.

Answer 8

What damn difference does it make? It's still matrimony - mother's money. As for man being of superior intelligence and all that other crap, take a look at the V.A.W.A. and divorce laws in your respective state and answer, who has superior intelligence, man or woman? As Simon Cowell said, marriage is an unfair contract (for a man).

Answer 9

Just because of difference in hormones.

Women have more sacrificing mentality than men, and most women like projecting their husband in front of others. Most women take pride in telling others that they are protected by a guy.

On the contrary, a normal man would like to be intependant - he always look for his own space.

Women are emotional than men, and men are more egoistic than women. How ever, it may vary from person to person - and I've seen some women not changing their name even after their marriage. It should be a matter of personal choice.

Answer 10

It's up to each individual as to how handle their name. Most women actually *want* to take their husband's name, they like the tradition. Those who want to keep their own can certainly do so, there's no law stating they must change it. And if a guy wants to change his name, he can do so easily. So there's something for everyone - and if the traditional way is still predominant, it is by choice. I chose not to change my name after marriage, and I would never want my husband to change his - I think it would be weird; he has his own, and he should be proud of it and stick to it, just as I do to mine.