August 3, 2009

Interesting: man took his wife's last name

I took my wife's last name - The Globe and Mail

I know an awful lot of people where both just kept their last names. I actually like that, though I understand it can be confusing if there are children involved. But one of the things the patrilineal naming system often does is reduce that matrilineal influence.

7 comments:

ANewAnglican@gmail.com said...

Very cool. As you know, we're one of those couples who retained their names.

I was always impressed by the way Carl Sagan's dust jack bio was presented. Instead of the usual, "He lives in blah blah, with his wife, so and so" it says: "Carl Sagan is the husband of Ann Druyan."

Nice way to flip it around, I thought.

ANewAnglican@gmail.com said...

Check that: s/b "dust jacket"

Monk-in-Training said...

I had a co worker here in Tulsa that almost did the same when he and his wife married. As I recall it was her who decided the issue to take his.

He claimed Oklahoma law permitted either spouse to do so.

Streak said...

I am sure you have seen this too, but I remember doing research for the dissertation and coming across women who had no name whatsoever. They were just shown in the picture as Mrs. His Name. That always made me sad.

steves said...

Interesting. I like my wife's prior name, so it wouldn't have bothered me to take it. It is confusing when you have children, IMO.

Streak said...

My wife's maiden name is pretty kick ass.

ANewAnglican@gmail.com said...

She does. I can't remember, though. Any relation to Doc Holliday? Or is it Holiday with one "l"?

"Look, darlin'. It's Johnny Ringo."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUPaigOxAi8