Why do most women change their surname on marrying?

traditionally when a woman marries, she changes her last name, so that the family has the same names. Alot of women now are hypenating thier maiden and last names, or in the south where i live, the woman changes her name to First Maiden and Last name, so you no longer use your middle birth name. It's also good for the children to have parents who have the same last name. It's very hard to be a child and have to explain why their mommy's name is different from their daddy's when they are married. Also in this tradition, the children take the father's last name but the mother's religion. Hope this helps clarify things

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?

Because we live in a Patriachal society - traditionally the woman, upon marrying, joins the man's household - this goes back to ancient Roman and Greek times - in some ancient Greek states women were not permitted to leave the house, and in some ways had less rights than a male slave, so were literally part of the husband's (master's) property. She would adopt his name to show that she was one of his household.

Its customery to do so.

Besides, when you Marry, then you should want to be "his" entirely and many women are proud to do this...

In fact, before I married my wife, I happened to be looking in the trash for a "good cigarrette butt" (yea, a smoker will do ANYTHING for that habit - glad I got over that nasty habit), but I am digressing...

As I said, I was looking for cigarrette buts to smoke again, and I came across a large piece of paper where my (now wife) was writing her name using my last name... as if we were married already!! I was shocked...because I never gave it a thought at the time, that she "wanted" to get married...hmmmm Never underestimate the love of a woman!

I wish you well...

Jesse

Anymore, I think it's just tradition. It is a pain to change your last name, trust me. And it's even more of a pain to change your name back to the maiden name when you get divorced. :)

My second marriage, I kept my maiden name as sort of my middle name. That way I show my union with my husband and I don't completely lose my identity.

It's just assumed that a woman is supposed to.

Makes it easier filling out tax paperwork, and there's less explaining to people why your name is different. Also easier for insurance purposes and any other legal matters.

I changed mine so I would no longer carry my ex-husband's name.

It shouldn't be a problem what name you have. You are still the same person and it is tradition and respect i guess.

Personally i am excited about my husbands name. I adore him. Never a problem as long as u love the person or with that person

Tradition, mostly. I was happy to take my husband's name because my maiden name was the name of my adoptive father who abandoned me at age 12. I couln't wait to get rid of it!

It's actually more difficult to access accounts, taxes, etc...if you don't, which I think is crap. I'm getting married next year, and I still haven't decided what to do.

So her husband and her are one.